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Decimon Huydas 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 



A Story of actual experiences in Ento 

(Mars) many centuries ago given 

to the Psychic 



SARA WEISS 



And by her transcribed automatically under 

the editorial direction of Spirit 

Carl De L'Ester 



Illustrated with Six Original Drawings 



THE AUSTIN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

Rochester, New York 
1906 



!»m»»m»nmmtmmmt 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cooles Received 

DEC 28 1906 

A Oopyrltfit Entry . 
^ **..*£ 'lb * 
CUSS A XXc " m«. 









• 



Copyright 1906, Adolph M. Weiss 



Dedication 

To my daughter Adelaide Carolyn Crosby, 
whose aspirations are in touch with my 
own, I dedicate this little story concerning 
persons and events of the Planet known to 
Earth people as Mars. 

SARA WEISS. 



Contents 

# 

Chapter. Page. 

I Invalou and Frona 15 

II Within the Walls of Koidassa. ... 20 

III Two Terror-stricken Families.... 24 

IV A Temptation and a Vision 39 

V High Priest Zeydon's Downfall. . 47 

VI The Vision of Ouman Mitsa. ... 60 

VII The Persecution and the Defender 80 

VIII News from the Captives 94 

IX In the Inner Sanctuary 106 

X Dao and the Temple Zim 114 

XI A Terrific and Destructive Storm. 121 

XII The Appeal to Moukara 133 

XIII The Cloud's Silver Lining 138 

XIV The Priest's Confession 168 

XV Zeydon and the Children 194 



Illustrations 

PAGE 

Mrs. Weiss Frontispiece 

Valseta, a Flower used as an Altar Offer- 
ing 16 

Tsoina, an Ento Flower considered 

sacred 52 •' 

Rodel, the National Flower of Ento, 

Emblematic of Life and Death 80 

Rosera, an Ento Plant not found on Earth 128 

A Flower of Ento, name unknown 144 

A Flower of Ento, name unknown 176 



Note of Explanation 



To those who may read this Romance of 
Ento* it may be well to say, that the relation 
of the story is the fulfillment of a promise 
made to me by an Ento spirit, known as 
Genessano Allis Immo, whose interpreter is 
Carl De L'Ester, counselor and guide of a 
spirit band known, on the spirit side of life, as 
the Evon Thia, which, in the English tongue, 
signifies "Eor Love's Sake." 

By this spirit band I have been named 
Gentola, which is an Ento name of kindly 
significance. 

If the readers of this little story, which con- 
cerns persons of our neighboring planet 
known to us as Mars, receive the pleasure ex- 
perienced by me while listening to its recital, I 
shall be greatly gratified. 

SARA WEISS. 



Mars. 



Glossary 

Andumana — Supreme, Infinite One; Creator 
of all things. 

Anatuzza Fundoitsa — Ecclesiastical court. 

Asmona — A shrub of fine foliage, of insignif- 
icant blooms, but very fragrant. 

Amatu — Estate of Ouman Mitsa. 

Budas lota — Immensely lofty tree, whose foli- 
age trembles incessantly. 

Diafon Evoiha — Dwelling place of The Su- 
preme One. 

Eydas — A large night bird. 

Feltah — An animal resembling a deer. 

Flicksha — A beautiful gray and yellow sing- 
ing bird. 

Fluetas — Sacred bird resembling a peacock, 
but much larger. 

Fluyna — Resembles a rose ; blooms of various 
colors. 

Frydas — A goddess. 

Iton Tsuma — Supreme ruler at the time the 
incidents related occurred. 

Indalufa — A shrub of large growth; blooms 
very fragrant and pretty. 

Koidassa, — Estate of the Nyassas. 



Litzen Rinada — Institution for the education 
of novices. 

Moutsen ken ava — Home of the Consecrated. 

Nuya — Goddess of Spring. 

Phra — Death Messenger. 

Raucca — A rather large, black bird. 

Ryzo entevah — Century. 

Shama — Egg. 

Shaman — Egg shaped. 

Stefa — Fish. 

Temos Ita — One of Ento's loftiest mountain 
peaks. 

Tsonia — Sacred altar bloom ; used as an of- 
fering. 

Tymonas — God of the inner sanctuary of 
Temple Zim. 

Vouhoida — Resembles a pipe organ. 

Yafra a luytos — Truth and duty. 

Zoita — A stringed instrument resembling a 
guitar. 

Zyma — A dovelike bird, seldom seen during 
the day. 



Introduction 

Gentola emana : — Nearly two of Earth's 
years have elapsed since I have had 
the privilege and pleasure of personally 
saluting you, which now I do with full- 
est assurance of a regard which magnifies 
itself, as I recall the experiences of those never 
to be forgotten days of yore and your loving 
endeavor in the interests of my people. You 
have been made to understand why, during 
this period, you have felt disinclined to com- 
mune with your spirit friends, who, neverthe- 
less, have constantly been about you, guard- 
ing and guiding you along the devious ways of 
mortal existence. We rejoice with you that, 
at last, you are thought to be strong enough 
to resume association with the Evon Thia. 

During the past year, one of the lessons that 
you, to a degree, have been perfecting, is the 
all important one of self-control, which is 
very nearly allied to the mental quality 
termed concentration; and until mortals have 
made these two traits a part of their selfhood, 
they are at the mercy of every adverse cir- 
cumstance and emotion : consequently, they are 
as driftwood tossed hither and thither on the 
pulsing tide of human existence, whose waves 



ever are bearing them onward towards a 
shoreless eternity. Other lessons, unconscious- 
ly, you have been incorporating into the very 
warp and woof of your being; and now we 
find you prepared to take upon yourself the 
accomplishment of such duties as are a part of 
your life work. 

In fulfillment of my promise to some time re- 
late to you a Romance of Ento, which, alas ! is 
founded upon actual occurrences, I shall be 
obliged to recall scenes and events of days 
long past, happily never to return, — days so 
filled with anguish that men and women, the 
actual characters of the story, who long have 
dwelt in Ento's spirit spheres, even yet shrink 
from recalling memories which would becloud 
the joys of their present existence. While 
reading the story, my brother Inidora and I 
were so impressed by its pathetic and tragic 
features, that we are yet able to recall it almost 
in its entirety. By the Entoans it has ever 
been regarded as a little classic in which are 
portrayed, not only phases of human nature, 
but religious and social events of a bygone 
time : events tinged with the sacredness ever 
attached to sorrowful personal experiences. 

Before beginning the recital of the story as 
related by Decimon Huydas, I desire to touch 

10 



upon some points which may render more in- 
telligible some statements and expressions, 
which otherwise might confuse the minds of 
those not at all versed in Spirit philosophy. 

In planetary language, which all advanced 
spirits understand, Evon Thia (For Love's 
Sake) is the watchword of all engaged in en- 
deavor to uplift humanity on both the physical 
and spirit planes of being; and such spirits 
ever strive to unfold such mentalities as are 
sensitive to their approach : for only through 
sensitives can the truth of the continuity of 
existence be demonstrated. 

In every human being are the infolded 
qualities constituting the sensitive, or medium- 
istic, condition ; but, as no two personalities 
are alike, so no two sensitives are alike : hence 
spirits are obliged to accommodate their ef- 
forts to the individual peculiarities of sensi- 
tives ; and often their efforts prove ineffective, 
or are wholly misunderstood, thus creating 
confusion and skepticism in many minds. 

At the period when Man on any planet be- 
comes a living Soul — that is, a soul dominated 
by Immortal Spirit — consciously or uncon- 
sciously he enters into relation with the spirit 
side of life, ever recognizing only what the 
plane of his development can assimilate. On 

11 



Ento, as on other planets inhabited by spirit- 
ualized humans, this process of unfoldment of 
spirit perceptivity, or sensitiveness, has ever 
been recognized as something apart from the 
objective experiences of all observing its 
phenomena; and endless have been the conjec- 
tures concerning its origin. When experi- 
enced by persons of exalted piety, its source 
has ever been regarded as Deific ; but when ex- 
perienced by irreligious and immoral persons 
its source has been considered only evil. But 
to you, as to many others, has come the 
knowledge that in the universe there is but one 
Principle, which is wholly good, and that the 
expression of seeming evil is but the expres- 
sion of an unevolved condition. Admitting 
the correctness of this statement inclines one 
to be charitable towards those who, through 
ignorance or weakness of purpose, fail to ful- 
fill the Law of Love. 

I shall conclude this rather inconclusive in- 
troduction to a Romance of Ento by saying 
that I, an Ento spirit, am aided in expressing 
myself by an Earth-born, Carl De L'Ester, who 
is counselor and guide of a band of the Evon 
Thia; and I am so presumptuous as to hope 
that my recital of the little story may, in the 
minds of the thoughtful, awaken an interest 

12 



in peoples so clearly resembling themselves 
and in a planet which, like their own fair 
Earth, was, in the fullness of time, thrown 
from the glowing heart of the great central 
magnet, the sun of our solar system, into 
space and held there by the Omnipotent, In- 
telligent Force pervading, not only all worlds, 
but every atom of a boundless universe. 

Gexessano Allis Immo. 

Once a mortal man of Ento; which is 
known to Earth-boms as the Planet Mars. 



i?> 



STORY OF 

DECIMON HUYDAS 

AS RELATED BY 

GENESSANO ALLIS IMMO 



CHAPTER I. 



Twilight's gray, mysterious shadows en- 
veloped as with a dusky veil one of the loveli- 
est suburbs of Leonita Tylu. Overhead the 
lamps of Astranola* gleamed downward 
through fleecy, flying clouds, which thinly 
veiled their sacred fires. From off the bosom 
of Lake Shaman, whose rippling waves softly 
kissed its pebbly shore, floated the sweet 
strains of Zoitas,f accompanying the voices of 
youths and maidens who sang a tender love 
song. From out the branches of some great 
Budas trees, embowering a stately residence 
near the lake shore, cooed the soft, plaintive, 
quavering notes of a Zymas,$ whose evening 

*Home of Deific Ones. 

f Stringed musical instruments. 

f Dovelike bird, yet larger. 

15 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

song ever awakens tenderest emotions and 
memories. On either side of the residence 
beautiful fountain groups threw into the quiet 
air their silvery spray, which returned to great 
white marble basins with the pattering, sooth- 
ing sound of gently falling rain. From out 
the hearts of myriad blooms, the breaths of the 
wandering breeze drew their subtle fragrance 
to be borne as a sweet night offering to the 
gentle goddess Nuya, whose life-giving touch 
had called them into beauteous expression. 

As twilight deepened into night, save for 
the rustling of the whispering leaves of the 
towering Budas trees there was unbroken 
silence. Suddenly, from out the stillness, 
came the sound of swiftly running feet; and 
a moment later, hand in hand, the forms of a 
boy and girl like flying shadows sped towards 
a nearby temple, whose brilliant lights poured 
their radiance into the outer darkness, which 
yet was not deep enough to quite obscure the 
pallid beauty of the admirable architecture 
and exquisitely sculptured exterior of the 
sacred edifice. 

As they neared the temple the boy, Invalou, 
breathlessly whispered : "Oh, Frona, I fear 
we are late for the offering and the High 
Priest will be angry with us, — and, Frona 

16 




Valseta — A Flower of Mars used as an Altar 
Offering. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

dear, it is my fault. I am very sorry, Frona. 
Say that you forgive me, Frona, and I will 
never again behave so foolishly." 

Frona said not a word but clasped 
closer the trembling hand of the boy, and a 
moment later they hastily entered an apart- 
ment at the rear of the temple, where were 
assembled the offering bearers laden with 
grains, fruits and flowers. 

As the two tardy ones entered the apart- 
ment they observed in the glances of their 
companions an expression of sympathy and 
alarm. They quickly placed themselves in posi- 
tion in the procession, standing with downcast 
eyes and abashed faces under the peculiar 
scrutiny of the High Priest. Presently three 
strokes of the temple bell broke the painfully 
embarrassing silence ; then the High Priest 
said, "Invalou, Frona, you will remain where 
you are until I return." Again the silvery- 
tones of the temple bell pealed out. Noise- 
lessly the temple doors moved aside. The 
High Priest entered and moved towards the 
altar, its white sculptured beauty towering to 
the great dome through whose transparent red 
and golden Diafon Evoiha* the swiftly flying 

^Dwelling place of Gods. 

17 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

Moon, Entela, threw beams of faint effulgence. 
Softly the strains of the Vouhoidaf broke the 
stillness ; and, as its vibrant tones, accom- 
panied by the intoning voices of the singers, 
filled the temple with sweetest melody, the 
offering-bearers entered and with slow rhyth- 
mic movements drew near the altar, arrang- 
ing themselves on either side of the High 
Priest Zeydon Gamala. As the attendants re- 
moved the offerings of the previous day the 
children replaced them with golden grains, 
fruits, and the red and yellow blooms of the 
sacred Tsoina and Valseta. 

Among the throng of worshippers were the 
parents of Invalou and Frona, who soon per- 
ceived that their children were not among the 
offering-bearers. Quickly their eyes were 
filled with surprise and their loving hearts 
with a nameless dread lest some evil thing 
had befallen their darlings, their Invalou and 
Frona. 

As all Entoans well know, it is not per- 
missible that any one shall enter or depart 
during the ministry of the sacred functions of 
the temple ; but as the service proceeded the 
alarm of the parents of the absent ones in- 

fVery like a pipe organ, 
is 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

creased ; and as the last Rau was pronounced 
and the procession, preceded by the High 
Priest, passed from the rear of the temple, 
they hastened towards their home, where, to 
their great dismay, they learned that their 
children had gone to the temple prepared to 
take their allotted part in the evening service 
to the goddess Frydas, — she whose quicken- 
ing breath woos into perfection grains, fruits 
and flowers, and whose lamplight now gleam- 
ed and twinkled in the far-off night sky. 



19 



jJECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER II. 

A long line of worthy ancestry in time 
found expression in two brothers who, with 
their families, occupied the residence of an 
estate known as Koidassa ; and truly their 
home was one of love, tranquillity and content- 
ment. Luvon, the elder, and Damma, the 
younger brother, were sons of one of the most 
distinguished families of a southern land, 
known in their time as the province Fondelek, 
a region then, as now, sufficiently fertile to 
sustain a dense population. A son cemented 
the union of Luvon and his admirable wife, 
Tillene ; and a daughter, fair and sweet as a 
Rodel bud, graced the marriage of Damma 
and his beautiful and gracious spouse, 
Avanna. 

The two families were as one in all that 
concerned their happiness and interests. No 
thought of a separateness of residence ever 
occurred to any member of either family. Gen- 
eration after generation of the Nyassas had 
lived, loved, and gone into the Silence within 
the walls of the great edifice Koidassa, which 
was so stanchly built as to defy time and the 
elements. 

20 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Luvon and Tillene, also Damma and 
Avanna, were united in marriage in the same 
hour; but through Andumana's creative 
power, Invalou, the boy, came into existence 
two years earlier than He bestowed upon 
Damma and Avanna a daughter, who from 
her earliest infancy was regarded as won- 
drously beautiful. The passing years added 
new charms to a countenance and form of 
surpassing loveliness ; yet no more admirable 
were they than the gracious and fine nature 
which animated her expressive face and light- 
ed the depths of her empurpled eyes. And 
now that childhood was merging into maiden- 
hood, Frona Nyassa presented a personality 
so uncommon as to attract the attention and 
admiration of all beholders. There was about 
her a subtle charm and a nameless something 
which set her apart from other girls of her 
age but did not in any manner detract from 
her ingenuous simplicity, which was a notice- 
able trait of her character. Being of a mixed 
race she inherited the golden hair, fair skin 
and empurpled eyes of her beautiful mother; 
but in form, stature and mental traits she 
greatly resembled her stately father, who was 
of the d?rk skinned race of Wend. 

Invalou, the dark eyed, dark skinned, dusky 
21 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

haired boy, was noticeably like his Wend 
father, who was a man of great nobility of 
feature, form and bearing: a man whose just, 
gentle, loving nature found full expression in 
his beloved son, who in his approaching man- 
hood promised a complete fulfillment of all 
the hopes and desires of his fond parents. 

By their parents Invalou and Frona were 
regarded as children, as indeed they yet were, 
— but as children whose footsteps were near- 
ing the threshold of maturity. Their future I'.tJd 
for them and their nearest and dearest ones 
such immeasurable sorrow that I, who relate 
this story of their trials, shrink with tearful 
eyes and reluctant speech from its recital. That 
I relate it at all is that we of a happier time may 
remember and appreciate the merciful kind- 
ness of our Creator, who, through His bound- 
less love for us, hath declared that no more 
shall His offending children offer themselves, 
or be offered as atonement for sin to appease 
His righteous wrath because of their trans- 
gressions of His laws. That we who so love 
our cherished ones that all else is as nothing 
shall hold them in our embraces as in our 
hearts until Death, the Inexorable One, shall 
woo them into perpetual Silence, is such a 
priceless blessing that with every thought of 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

our minds, with every breath of our lives, we 
should remember and adore Andumana's 
mercy for His ungrateful and thoughtless 
children. May this little story be to all who 
may read it a reminder of their duty to Him 
who hath so tempered justice with mercy that 
the dread past is dead and gone forever. If 
this end may be attained I, Decimon Huydas, 
shall not have written in vain. 



23 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER III. 

For a moment the announcement that the 
children had certainly gone to the temple 
paralyzed the senses of the terror-stricken 
parents ; then, with keenest apprehension, they 
hastened towards the nearby residence of the 
High Priest. As they ran no word was spoken, 
but when they came into his presence the 
mother breathlessly, tearfully cried, "O 
Sacredness, knowest thou where are our dear 
ones, our Invalou, and Frona? They were 
seen hastening towards the temple, but we 
saw them not in the service, and on our return 
home we found them not." 

For a little Zeydon did not reply, but his 
sternly set face and lowering brow drove the 
hot blood from their faces back to their wildly 
beating hearts. Then Luvon and Damma, 
approaching him more nearly, humbly knelt at 
his feet and in tones of immeasurable anguish 
besought him to speak lest their breaking 
hearts should hasten them and their dear con- 
sorts into the Silence. 

Then Zeydon, in whom neither love, sym- 
pathy nor other tender emotion seemed to 
have ever found expression, coldly and sternly 

24 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

uttered words so appalling that his suppliants 
cowered prone at his feet. 

"Luvon, Damma, Tillene, and Avanna," he 
said, "lately I have observed that the mem- 
"bers of your household, including your son 
and daughter, have grown careless and unob- 
servant of your duties towards our Holy Re- 
ligion ; and, what is quite as censurable, your 
offerings to Andiimana, the Supreme One, 
and to the Deific Ones of Astranola have so 
decreased in value and frequency that no 
longer may such offenses pass unnoticed or 
the offenders go unpunished." 

"Recently, in the inner sanctuary, I, Zey- 
don, communed with the god Soima, whom ye 
know of as the messenger between Andumana 
and those of his children whom he hath given 
into my charge, and for whose good or evil 
conduct I, to a degree, am responsible. To 
me, Zeydon, the sacred messenger hath de- 
clared that for those who transgress the laws 
of the Holy Writings adequate reparation 
must be made, else life, the chiefest possession, 
may be withdrawn from offenders. 

"Since you have shown yourselves unfitted 
to rear Andumana's* children it is my duty to 
take them under my especial care, that they 

^Supreme One. 

25 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

may be taught the holy mysteries of the temple 
service and as priest and priestess learn that 
Andumana and the dwellers in Astranola are 
not to be lightly regarded or worshipped 
merely with the lips." 

As Zeydon ceased speaking he folded his 
arms, inclined his haughty head, and for the 
first time since their entrance into his pres- 
ence closely regarded the stricken ones, whose 
pitiful moans and shuddering forms might 
have touched even the vengeful gods. In the 
depths of his dark eyes was an expression in- 
scrutable and startling. It was as though they 
were very abysses in which smouldering fires 
luridly burned ; lighting up the dark face of a 
still youthful and exceedingly handsome man. 

After some moments he again spoke : 
"Arise," he said, in a low peremptory tone, 
"Go, — the children will remain with me, — and 
remember that Andiimana's mercy may not 
be strained. Adore him ceaselessly, else he 
may demand a greater sacrifice than your 
yielding to his holy service Invalou and 
Frona." 

Then he turned away and, drawing aside 
the heavy silken door drapery, disappeared. 

For a time only the sobbing moans of the 
bereft parents broke the profound stillness of 

26 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

the great, sumptuous apartment ; then Luvon 
and Darama arose, staggering like drunken 
men, so overcome were they by the immeasur- 
able disaster which had so suddenly, so unex- 
pectedly overtaken them and their dearest 
ones. Raising from the floor their almost 
swooning consorts they sustained their trem- 
bling steps into the outer air, which suddenly 
had grown damp and chill, and through the 
night half blindly found their way to their 
desolated home. 

During the period in which these events oc- 
curred, to observant persons it became appar- 
ent that among the most highly educated and 
cultured peoples of Ento there was a rapidly 
growing tendency towards an apathetic inter- 
est in the observances of our Holy Religion 
and, what was still more deplorable, a positive 
protest, approaching rebellion, against a cer- 
tain rite which ever since the establishment of 
our Holy Religion had never been questioned. 
Its observance was a commandment of the 
Sacred Writings ; and clearly there was occa- 
sion for this commandment, else Andumana, 
the Supreme One, the Just One, would not 
have uttered it ; and only one wholly impious 
or bereft of reason would have dared to op- 
pose himself, or herself, against a decree of 

27 



DECIMOX HUTDAS 

the creator, who is the destroyer of all things 
existing contrary to his divine will. 

Being a commandment of the Sacred Writ- 
ings, this rite had ever been the most forceful 
of all religious observances ; and thus for the 
transgressions of the people, or to appease the 
vengeful anger of the mighty ones who dwell 
in i\stranola, the dearest and loveliest of 
Ento's youths and maidens went into the Sil- 
ence, whence returns no sound of loving 
voices, no word of gentle speech. 

I, Decimon Hufdas, who write this story 
of a bygone time, desire that I may do so in a 
reverent manner : and may Andumana forgive 
if, unwittingly, I may write aught that shall 
mar its truthfulness. Had it pleased Him to 
have created me then rather than on a more 
recent day, I can not say but that I might have 
been no wiser than were those of His children 
w T ho, through their constant dread of the pos- 
sibility of losing through the sacrificial rite 
that which they valued more than all else, 
passed naturally from a state of incessant 
anxiety to one of fierce despair ; and then, 
rather than longer endure the ceaseless strain 
and agony of apprehension lest Andumana, 
through His messengers, demand the lives of 

28 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

their cherished ones, went unbidden with them 
into the Silence. 

So prevalent became this protest against the 
sacred sacrificial rite that indignation and 
alarm seized upon the minds of the priesthood, 
who appealed to the government to prohibit 
the monstrous crime. Very positive decrees 
were forthwith issued, forbidding the people 
to further engage in such reprehensible con- 
duct. Strange to say, this interference of the 
government appeared to afford an added im- 
pulse to the mania. 

The argument offered was, that as existence 
was not continuous, was not it preferable to 
at once go with their dear ones into the Silence 
than for a life-time to endure the agonizing 
dread of having them torn from their em- 
braces to suffer the torture of the sacrificial 
rite. 

Who, in these happier years when our dear 
ones are permitted to live out days assigned 
them by the Supreme One, can find it in their 
hearts to censure those unhappy ones whose 
minds gave way under their intolerable burden 
of well founded apprehension; for during the 
period of which I write the priesthood had 
grown so pious and so zealous that the altar 
fires of Ento's numerous temples were con- 

29 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

tinuously kept ablaze, that thus they might ex- 
press their adoration for Andumana and the 
Deific Ones, as also their reverence for the 
rites of our holy religion, established by the 
Creator, who, when He so wills, may cause to 
be destroyed the work of His hands. 

It was during the early inception of the 
lamentable suicidal and homicidal mania 
which impelled so many loving ones to hasten 
with their children into the Silence that 
Invalou and Frona were separated from their 
parents, who well knew that years must elapse 
ere they might hope to once more gaze upon 
the forms of their adored children. During 
the years of their noviciate only the priesthood 
would be aware of the place of their abode; 
and in their bitter sorrow these loving parents 
lamented ceaselessly that they too had not for 
themselves and their dearest ones chosen the 
oblivion of death. 

I would not have the readers of this story 
imagine that I write as my fancy dictates. Not 
so : through the courtesy of a descendant of 
the Nyassas I have at my disposal certain 
records relating to the occurrences of which I 
write ; but of much that they contain which 
would add to the interest of the narrative I 
hesitate to make free use, for the reason that 

30 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

I do not feel that I have a right to reveal to 
the living that which the dead once held 
sacred. Thus I shrink a little from alluding 
to the distress of Invalou and Frona when 
they realized that they were not free to return 
to their home and parents. Their cries for 
succor, their frantic struggles to escape, were 
indeed pitiful. Filled with terror they clung 
to each other until attendants of the High 
Priest, not ungently, removed them from the 
apartment and hastened them away from the 
temple, — away from the scenes of their care- 
free and happy childhood, away from home 
and beloved parents, away to a not far distant 
institution devoted to the special education of 
those of Ento's youths and maidens who in 
time would minister as priests and. priestesses 
in temples dedicated to the Supreme Creator, 
the Holy One, Who gazes from the portals 
of His shining abode upon the children of His 
love, whom He rewards or chastises in accord- 
ance with His will. 

As we may not for the present follow the 
unhappy children into their new surroundings 
and experiences, we will turn our compassion- 
ate gaze towards Koidassa, where four 
stricken beings, crushed by the weight of an 
immeasurable disaster, ceaselessly moaned out 

31 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

the agony which well-nigh tore their hearts 
assunder. The great house which for never- 
to-be-forgotten years had echoed and re- 
echoed with the joyous songs and laughter of 
the lost ones had suddenly grown as silent as 
the footfalls of the dread god Phra,* whose 
all-embracing arms bear into the Silence the 
infant which like a sweet Roina bud clings to 
its mother's breast, the youth and maiden who 
like full blown rodels exhale the fragrance of 
their innocence and beauty, and the aged who 
on His breast close their bedimmed and weary 
eyes in endless sleep. Like restless shadows 
weeping and sighing, the parents stole through 
the spacious apartments. Everywhere were 
reminders of their children. Upon a pedestal 
was a sculptured statue of Invalou, no purer 
in its whiteness than the life animating the 
smiling lips of their beloved boy. In a draped 
niche was also a snowy representation of 
Frona, so admirable in form and expression 
as to have left nothing to be added to its per- 
fection. In the apartments devoted to the in- 
struction and amusement of their darlings the 
two mothers wandered to and fro. There, was 
a book, over whose pictured illustrations their 

*Death. 

32 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

dusky and golden-haired children had side by 
side spent many happy moments ; and it was 
now lifted reverently to tremulous, loving 
lips. Here, was some childish treasure, care- 
fully laid away by Invalou or Frona ; this was 
gazed upon through blinding tears and press- 
ed close to wounded hearts which nevermore 
might pillow the dusky or golden-haired head 
of the owner. 

Only *Yodis vahua had yet elapsed since, 
with the suddenness and unexpectedness of a 
lightning flash in a clear sky, their children 
had been torn from them ; but as their tearful 
eyes wandered from one object to another they 
reckoned the days as lingering years. So ap- 
palling*, so overwhelming, was the calamitous 
occurrence which had come into their lives 
that it presented a certain grotesque unreality. 
They existed as though in a dreadful dream- 
ing state, from which they thought they must 
awaken to find their dear ones in their arms. 
The days that held for them no Invalou, no 
Frona, were as naught but haunting hallucina- 
tions ; and the nights were filled with darkness 
and despair. Thus, days and nights merged 
into each other, bearing mute witness to the 

^Eleven days. 

33 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

unspeakable anguish of the two mothers, 
Tillene and Avanna. For Luvon and 
Damma there was no future : only wearisome 
days and nights of an objectless existence; 
then some time would come the Silence, be- 
yond which there was nothing. Indeed, for 
the grief-stricken parents only the memories 
of the past presented a semblance of happi- 
ness or of reality. Certainly in the past there 
had been the ever present fear of the sacrificial 
rite ; but they and their household had strictly 
fulfilled the Sacred Commandments : their of- 
ferings, contrary to Zeydon's statements, had 
ever been such of their possessions as they 
had prized most highly; so they said to them- 
selves and to each other, "Su:ely the just and 
mighty gods will not demand from us an 
atonement for the transgressions of others." 
To Andumana, the Supreme One, they con- 
stantly had offered their profoundest adora- 
tion because He had given into their keeping 
two of His children, who to them were as 
priceless jewels for whose welfare and safety 
they gladly would have yielded all their pos- 
sessions, — aye, even life itself ! Thus, through 
the years, they had so reassured themselves 
and each other that their fears for their chil- 
dren's safety had never assumed sufficient 

34 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

tangibility to more than cast a faint shadow 
athwart their tranquility. Of the possibility 
of the calamity which now encompassed them 
and their dearest ones they never had enter- 
tained a thought. In all past time seldom had 
Andumana, through His messengers, ex- 
pressed a command that a certain youth or 
maiden should enter the temple service ; in- 
deed, always more candidates for the sacred 
office had offered themselves than were ac- 
cepted; thus, to these parents the taking away 
of their children was inexplicable. True, the 
High Priest Zeydon had accused them of re- 
missness in their religious duties ; but of any 
observance unfulfilled they were unconscious. 
In their distress and perplexity they re- 
solved to appeal, through the then Supreme 
Ruler, Iton Tsuma, to the Most High . Priest 
Moukara, of the Most Sacred Temple Zim. 
Commending to the care of the Deific Ones 
their unhappy consorts, they hastened to the 
capital city Dao, where, through the Supreme 
Ruler, they offered to the "Most High Priest, 
for the uses of the Temple Zim, ; all their vast 
wealth if thus they might secure the release 
of their children; but Moukara refused to in- 
terfere between them and their .guardian High 
Priest, who was accounted a most pious and 

35 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

wise man who must know better than they 
what was best for those under his, charge. In 
other temples they made rich offerings, im- 
ploring the messengers of Andumana to bear 
to Him their supplications that Invalou and 
Frona, might be returned to them, not so much 
for their own happiness as for that of the 
broken-hearted mothers. 

All in vain were their offerings and sup- 
plications. With aching hearts and bowed 
heads they returned to their blighted home and 
woeful consorts, with whom they strove to 
patiently endure the passing days and years 
which for them held naught but incessant 
anxious longing for the beloved ones who 
could come to them no more. Xot even the 
loving sympathy of relatives and friends lifted 
from their hearts the, burthen of their hopeless 
grief, which would cease only when death 
should bear them into the Silence, whither so 
many with their dear ones were rushing un- 
bidden and whither they, too, would have 
gone had it not been that they cherished a 
faint hope of sometime, somehow, beholding 
again the dear faces of their children. 

At that time so , appalling had grown the 
strange death mania, that it seemed to be in 
the thought of almost every one. In its earlier 

36 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

stage it was confined to those, possessing chil- 
dren ; but so pernicious is unrighteous example 
that later many whose conditions were not to 
their liking became fatally impressed with the. 
idea, of self-destruction, and apparently with- 
out hesitation they gave back to their Creator 
that which to them had grown to be a 
burthen. 

Andumana, perceiving the^ unreasoning de- 
spair of His children, who were as the blind 
leading the blind, resolved to reveal to them 
His boundless love and pity for their dis- 
traught , condition. At His command the 
mighty god Tymonas sped to the Most Sacred 
Temple Zim and in the inner sanctuary, to the 
Most High Priest Moukara, the inexpressibly 
beneficent message was delivered, that 'hence- 
forth only voluntary human sacrifice would 
find acceptance with the Creator of Ento's 
children; that on His altars only animals, 
grains, fruits, and red and golden-hued tsonia 
blooms, typical of His abode, should ever 
again be offered ; that as temple offerings His 
children should, as heretofore, give according 
to their possessions; and 'that at once self- 
destruction and destruction of the lives of 
others must at once cease. 

As no one dared, or even desired to disobey 

37 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

a 'command of the Supreme One, the mania 
came to an end. 

Only the peoples of that woeful time could 
have realized the full significance of this reve- 
lation of Andumana's 'love and pity for His 
children. Suddenly, from the very depths of 
despair which through tRyzo-entevah had 
grown unendurable, the people found them- 
selves lifted to a condition of happiness they 
had never dreamed of, much less hoped for; 
and so supreme and overwhelming was their 
joy that for a time it was akin to delirium. We 
of this happier time can scarcely realize the 
state of their minds. Xo longer were their 
children regarded as a blessing which they 
must hold in loose hands, as on the morrow 
they might be torn from their embraces to be 
laid upon the sacrificial altar. Now, their 
children were their own, — aye, their very 
own ! No more would their minds and hearts 
be filled with awful dread, their thoughts with 
ceaseless terror; and, for a 'time, the con- 
sciousness that all living things must at last 
go into the Silence was forgotten. The great- 
er joy submerged the lesser sorrow. 

tA century. 

38 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 
CHAPTER IV. 

Gcntola emana: — The mortal — immortal is 
a marvelous combination of the God and the 
human: 'inheriting all the characteristics of all 
the humans who have preceded him, truly he 
is multiim in parvo. 

No, I am not acquainted with the Latin 
tongue, but De L'Ester is; and through his 
instruction I am coming more nearly in touch 
with the language and thought of some of the 
peoples of your planet. So be not surprised 
should 'my Ento tongue attempt to utter a. 
word or phrase of some one of your astonish- 
ingly numerous languages. 

I have been told that thinkers of your planet 
recognize the fact, 'that as peoples progress, 
from lower to higher stages of civilization 
they incline to simplicity of expression and: 
oneness of language. On our side of life we 
observe that the 'language or languages of 
the peoples of any planet positively indicate 
the stage of their civilization. 

On Ento, as you are aware, but one lang- 
uage is .spoken. True, among the less cul- 
tured of our people there are what De L'Ester 
terms provincialisms and inelegancies of 

39 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

speech ; but really we have but one language. 

You will pardon me if I say that your own 
language is very difficult of application, many 
words offering meanings so varied as to be 
confusing to a foreigner like myself ; but time 
will -accomplish for your planet what it has 
already accomplished for Ento and for other 
worlds, and in some coming age Earth's, 
greatly progressed peoples will speak but one 
language. 

You, I perceive, are wondering why I am 
prefacing to-day's recital with extraneous ex- 
pressions. I do so not without motive. We 
found you too disquieted to concentrate your 
attention upon our work, and we must request 
you in future to suppress all emotion, as it 
seriously interferes with our control of your 
organism. 

Now you are tranquil. Strive to be atten- 
tive, so that you may grasp not only my mean- 
ing but also my construction of sentences, 
which, I am aware, are not so clearly ex- 
pressed as I could desire. 

SPIRIT GENESSANO ALLIS IMMO. ' 



Koidassa, the estate of the Nyassas, which 
is still the home of a near descendant of that 



40 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

family, verged on the limits of an opulent city 
of Ento, known then, as now, as Leonita 
Tvlu, which for a considerable distance ex- 
tended along the shore of Lake Shaman*, near 
which was the residence of the brothers Ltivon 
and Damraa Nyassa. In Leonita Tylii 
were a number of beautiful temples 
which are still reckoned among Ento's finest 
expressions of architecture. One especially 
noticeable, which still is known as *YafTa a 
Liiytos, stood amid a lovely garden of shrub- 
bery and blooming plants. At intervals beauti- 
ful statues, singly or in group, added their 
snowy whiteness to the scene. Fountains of 
exquisite loveliness threw into the quiet air 
myriad jets of sparkling water, whose falling 
spray caught, as in silvery meshes, the frag- 
rance of the wealth of many-hued blossoms. 
Pairs of majestic Jfluetas, the sacred birds of 
the Deific Ones, strayed through the spacious 
grounds, their widespread plumage glowing 
like jewels amid the verdure. Overhead, 
among the towering Budas trees, bright 
plumaged, sweet throated birds sang love 

fEgg-shaped. 
*Truth and Duty. 
^Resembling peacocks. 

41 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

songs to their mates, while droning fEydas 
sucked from the hearts of odorous blooms 
their stores of nectar. 

Intruders into this secluded spot were of 
rare occurrence; none, save its keepers being 
privileged to enter it unbidden. Now, -along 
its quiet pathways a stately form clothed in 
priestly garments paced to and fro. A strik- 
ingly handsome man was this priest/ who, with 
bowed head, loosely clasped hands, and ap- 
parently unseeing eyes, walked as though lost 
to all save his thoughts, which at last -impelled 
him to exclaim in accents of intense emotion: 
"So beautiful ! So beautiful ! She has grown 
so wondrously beautiful! May the -gods be 
merciful to me, — for I love her, I madly love 
her! I, Zeydon, whose vows set me -apart 
from the love of woman ; I, Zeydon, who have 
deemed myself as passionless, as cold as the 
snows upon *Temos Ita — aye, as passionless 
as the breathless dead — I, Zeydon, find my 
traitorous heart so rent assunder by conflict- 
ing emotions that I stand dazed and trembling 
in the presence -of an influence so overwhelm- 

jLarge and beautiful insects resembling 
humming birds. 

*One of Ento's loftiest mountains. 

42 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

ing that I know not where or which way to 
turn for safety I" 

Panting as though in terror of some threat- 
ened danger, he for a moment looked about 
him, then he resumed his -restless pacing to 
and fro, to and fro. Suddenly he paused 
threw up his hands and with eyes turned to- 
wards Astranola, in a voice full -of anguish, 
he prayed : "Oh ye Deific Ones, who know 
naught of the passions of men and women ; ye 
messengers between the Creator and the 
created; ye who alone may approach the 
presence of the Supreme One, I implore your 
pity for one who is the most wretched of 
Andumana's children! Bear to Him my 
humble supplication that He may call me into 
the Silence ere in my despair" I may go thither 
unbidden !" 

While this agonizing entreaty issued from 
his quivering lips his . dark luminous eyes and 
trembling hands 'remained upraised towards 
f Astranola, and like a statue he stood motion- 
less. 

Across the beauty of verdure and bloom the 
last golden beams of Andumana's shining 
abode pierced the shadows of approaching 

f Abode of Deific Ones. 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

twilight. Deeper, denser, grew the shadows, 
and the dark veil of night enshrouded the 
white beauty of the temple, the groups of 
snowy statuary and the loveliness of the flow- 
ers. One by one, golden gleams of the Lamps 
of Astranola stole through the fleecy clouds, 
screening the portals of the glorious home of 
the Shining Ones, and the hush of night was 
everywhere. 

Still Zeydon, with upraised hands and wide 
open eyes, stood motionless. Suddenly a 
violent tremor shook him as the wind shakes 
the white, frail Roina blooms. Arousing as 
though from a profound stupor, he stared 
about him in a bewildered manner ; then, like 
a torrent, consciousness rushed in upon his 
senses, and in tones of awe and amazement he 
breathlessly whispered. 

"Can it be? Can it be? Ah, no, it can not 
be true ! For not even in the Inner Sanctuary, 
where I have been shown glimpses of Astra- 
nola, have I seen aught more wondrously 
beautiful than was this land of my marvelous 
dream, which seemed as real as aught my eyes 
ever have gazed upon. Ah me ! I am grow- 
ing strangely fanciful, — my disturbed senses 
are misleading me into a realm of unrealities. 
May the merciful gods preserve me from an 

44 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

utterly lost mind ! * * * But alas ! I deserve 
no good thing through their beneficence. 

"But I will not, I dare not, think of the de- 
plorable state into which I have fallen ! No : 
I will think of my dream, if dream it was ; 
and ere the memory of it may vanish as has 
vanished my peace of mind, I will strive to 
recall what I may of its incomparable loveli- 
ness. 

"As I walked I drew near the sculptured 
form of the sylvan god Deonadas ; and, as 
through the intervening shrubbery I caught a 
glimpse of the joyous smile on his curved lips, 
I asked my tortured self, Shall I ever again on 
my lips wear a smile of serene content ? Then 
into the agony of my waking stole a blessed 
sleep, and I seemed to behold a land diversi- 
fied by mountains, hills and vales, over which 
rested a soft, silvery radiance so wondrous 
that no poor words of mine can describe its 
matchless beauty. Through the verdure-clad 
vales flowed streams of sparkling water bord- 
ered by innumerable blooming plants, whose 
loveliness and exquisite fragrance shame into 
insignificance these poor blooms I have 
thought so admirable. And, wonder of won- 
ders, I seemed to behold everywhere men, 
women and children clothed in white, shining 

45 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

raiment of exceeding beauty. They were en- 
gaged in pursuits too manifold to be enumer- 
ated ; but all had countenances expressive of 
supreme happiness and contentment. 

O land of my dream where I seemed to 
find the loved and lost ones of my sinless, 
happy childhood and of later years, during 
which my only thought was of the glory of our 
holy religion ! Wert thou as real as this sor- 
rowful Ento world not for one moment would 
I hesitate to enter unbidden thy portals, and 
thus end this torture of body and mind which 
consumes me." 

At that moment the musical notes of Temple 
bells smote the stillness of the night, and 
Zeydon, arousing from the reverie into which 
he had fallen, with a sigh walked slowly away 
through the darkness towards his residence, 
through whose windows lights were pouring 
their soft radiance into the outer darkness. 



46 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 
CHAPTER V. 

Northward, beyond the confines of Leonita 
Tylii, a great structure, rather a group of 
structures, occupied a space of upland sur- 
rounded by substantial walls and set thickly 
with towering trees and an undergrowth of 
shrubbery, amid which were many sinuous 
walks and shaded nooks. 

In one of these nooks sat a youth whose de- 
meanor denoted a greatly disturbed mind, as 
with downcast eyes and drawn brow he 
scanned the pages of a book resting on his 
knees. Suddenly, with an impatient move- 
ment, he pushed away from his forehead his 
dusky hair, and, springing to his feet with a 
sort of breathless vehemence, he exclaimed, "It 
is false ! It is false ! Andumana, Thou Crea- 
tive One surely Thou hast not brought into be- 
ing Thy children only that they may live, love 
and suffer and then go into the Silence ! I 
■cannot, I will not — " 

"Invalou, Invalou," called a low, sweet 
voice. "Where are thou Invalou?" 

In answer to the startled, impulsive, "Here 
am I," a young girl stole swiftly through the 
shrubbery and came eagerly forward into the 

47 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

outreaching arms of Invalou, who clasped her 
to his breast murmuring in impassioned tones, 
"My Frona, My Frona," and for a little no 
other word was spoken. 

Then the golden-haired head drew gently 
away from the arms that would have detained 
it against his breast, and her empurpled eyes- 
looked with a troubled expression into Inva- 
lou's face, which had grown full of alarmed 
questioning. 

"What is it Frona, dearest? What has so 
disturbed thee that thou tremblest and art as 
white as Roina blooms? Tell me quickly, for 
I am in no mood to be tranquil while thou art 
so disturbed." 

A hot wave of color swept over the fair 
face of Frona as she hesitatingly, tremulously, 
said, "My Invalou I know not how to answer 
thee, for through an experience of yesterday I 
am as one partly bereft of a right mind. Heart 
of my heart, I have sought thee that thou 
mayest know that the High Priest Zeydon 
hath spoken to me words of such strange im- 
port that my mind and heart are yet filled 
with terror and measureless surprise." 

Ere she ceased speaking, Invalou's face 
paled and in his eyes was an angry gleam. 
"What said he to thee?" he questioned. 

4S 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Timidly, shrinkingly Frona replied, "It was 
at the close of the examination of the ad- 
vanced class that as I with the other novices 
were leaving his presence, he said : 'Frona, 
thou wilt remain; I have further instruction 
for thee.' Fain would I have fled from his 
presence but I dared not ; so with downcast 
eyes, and trembling limbs, I remained stand- 
ing before him. It seemed a long time ere he 
broke the silence, and then, in a strangely 
agitated voice, he said : 'Frona, more than 
three years have elapsed since in the inner 
sanctuary of Yaffa a Luytos, my guardian 
god, Soima, instructed me as to thy future and 
that of thy cousin Invalou. I will not say that 
I was wholly pleased in taking upon myself 
the discharge of a duty which entailed much 
that has not been agreeable ; but you, wru> 
have learned the meaning of obedience, will 
understand that I could not consult either my 
own inclination or yours." 

Then he hesitated, and as I questioningly 
glanced at his face I saw that he was gazing 
intently at my own, and in much confusion I 
quickly averted my incautious gaze, which 
saw in his eyes and face an expression which 
wellnigh stilled the beating of my heart. After 
a moment he continued: 'That I have been 

49 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

greatly interested in your progress as a stu- 
dent of the mysteries of our holy religion you, 
I believe, are aware. Indeed your growth and 
unfoldment have added a special charm to my 
existence ; and the knowledge, Frona, that I 
may have thee ever near me fills my mind and 
heart with such delight that I count the days 
valueless in which I do not behold thee. Have 
I alarmed thee, Frona? Child, child, I would 
not, to double the days of my existence, harm 
one golden hair of thy beauteous head. So 
tranquilize thyself, thou timid one, for I would 
speak to thee of another, and most marvellous 
matter.' 

"Ere he ceased his strange speech I had 
grown so faint that scarcely could I sustain 
my trembling form, and, doubtless, he perceiv- 
ing my distress, thought it wise to speak of 
something less personal. 

"Allowing me a brief interval in which to 
regain my selfpossession, he resumed : 
'Previous to coming here, doubtless, thee and 
thy cousin Invalou learned, through thy par- 
ents and the speech of others, something of 
the widespread unrest of Ento's unhappy peo- 
ples, which later resulted in a general and posi- 
tive protest against further sacrifice of their 
children, with whom many parents in their 

50 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

madness were hastening unbidden into the 
Silence. But you do not know that, finally, 
the mania so overstepped all bounds that the 
priesthood and the government were in despair 
as to what should be done to end this deplor- 
able condition, through which an unreason- 
ing frenzy sought to subvert a rite of our holy 
religion, which, with other observances, the 
children of Ento ever have recognized as 
righteous and in accord with the holy writings. 
In this extremity, out of which no one found 
a way for the betterment of the desperate 
situation, a most unexpected and unhoped for 
deliverance came. Andumana, the Supreme 
One, beholding the wretchedness of his unwise 
children, summoned to his presence the great 
god Tymonas, commanding him to bear to 
Moukara, the most high priest of the most 
sacred Temple Zim, a new revelation of his 
love, which through him should be made 
known to all peoples. Moukara, having re- 
ceived the marvelous revelation, hastened to 
impart it to the priesthood, then through a 
general proclamation to the people, who for a 
time were so overwhelmed with surprise and 
joy as to be unable to realize that Andumana 
had declared that no more should His children 
be unwillingly offered as sacrifices to appease 

51 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

His anger, or to test their obedience to his 
will. 

" 'The message was that henceforth only 
animals, grains, fruits and red and golden 
Tsoina and Valseta blooms, emblems of his 
abode, should be laid not as sacrifices, but as 
offerings of remembrance, upon his altars ;. 
that he desired that his children should grow 
purer in mind and heart, nobler in their lives, 
more loving and just in their conduct; for as 
they should deal one with another so would 
he deal with them ; and that should he find 
them worthy of His mercy and beneficence, in 
some coming time he would vouchsafe a 
further revelation of His will towards the 
children of his love.' 

''While Zeydon related this amazing, this 
overwhelming revelation I grew so tremulous, 
so confused in mind that I swayed to and fro 
and would have fallen to the floor had he not 
caught me in his arms ; which so added to my 
agitated state that for a brief space I lost con- 
sciousness. And oh, the shame of it ! the shame 
of it! As I regained my senses I felt his 
kisses on my lips, on my eyes and my face was 
wet with his tears. Through terror of him I 
again swooned, which so alarmed him that 
he summoned assistance. When I again be- 

52 




Tsoina — An Ento Plant which serves as an 

Altar Offering. It is looked up as 

sacred. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

came conscious I found myself in my own 
apartment with attendants ministering to me, 
and the anxious countenance of our kind phy- 
sician, Ammen Elda, bending over me. To 
his questioning as to what had induced the 
seizure I could make no reply, and as he per- 
sisted in his inquiries I fell into such a fit of 
uncontrollable weeping that he refrained and 
sought for means to control my agitation, 
which seemed to greatly perplex him. 

"Before departing for his residence, Zeydon 
made inquiry as to my condition; and I was 
made to understand that it was his opinion that 
"silence and solitude" would soon restore me 
to my usual state of tranquility and health. 

"Ah, little does Zeydon, or any one but thee, 
my Invalou, know of the tempest of angry re- 
bellion that ever rages in my heart against 
him who is the cause of our cruel separation 
from our dear parents and our home, where 
we were as free and joyous as soaring *Fliks- 
has singing their morning song to the rising 
radiance of Andumana's glorious abode. And 
Invalou, my Invalou, I am so filled with ap- 
prehension and with a dread of I know not 
what that the knowledge of Andumana's won- 

*A beautiful gray and yellow singing bird. 

53 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

drous revelation to his children falls almost 
without meaning upon my senses." 

During Frona's impetuous relation of her 
astounding experience Invalou seemed to have 
grown into the rigidity of a statue. Only that 
his breath came in short, labored gasps and 
that in his darks eyes was an expression of 
horror and amazement, one might have 
thought him bereft of life. From his close set 
lips came not one word to break his silence, 
which so alarmed the trembling Frona, that 
in great trepidation she clung to him, calling 
tenderly, tearfully, "Invalou, Invalou." 

Beyond a slight movement and a quivering 
sigh that was as a moan of some wounded 
creature, he made no response. 

"Invalou ! My dearest, speak to me, oh 
speak to me !" 

Frona's entreating voice shocked him into 
partial consciousness. A rush of color dyed 
the rich olive of his face and then, arousing as 
from a stupor, his eyes rested tenderly upon 
the lovely golden head of her whose existence 
was so closely interwoven with his own. Then 
he drew her white arms upward about his 
neck and in a broken voice murmured : "My 
dear love, my poor love, it were better far 
that the flames of the sacrificial altar should 

54 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

burn thy fair body to ashes than that the flame 
of Zeydon's unholy passion shall consume thy 
life and mine. Frona, Frona, how shall I 
save thee from this treacherous priest who 
tore us from our clear home, from our be- 
loved and loving parents, from all that made 
existence desirable, that thus he might have 
thee at his mercy? 

"That I was made to share thy misfortune, 
was not that he cared aught for my welfare, 
but he dared not accuse thy parents of a lack 
of religious observance, and proper care for 
thee without accusing mine of a like violation 
of the commandments of the sacred writings. 
Now the mystery of his conduct, which ever 
has perplexed me, is solved, and, though I die 
for it, he shall atone for the wrong he has done 
thee and me. 

"Frona, my dearest, thou hast risked much 
in coming to me to-day and every moment in- 
creases the hazard of a discovery of our meet- 
ing, which must not soon again occur lest 
harm may come to thee and me. Here in this 
cleft of our rocky trysting place leave written 
word of any evil that may threaten thee, and I 
swear by the just gods that should Zeydon 
further pursue thee I will send him into the 

55 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

Silence, even though we both may follow 
him." 

For a moment her white scared face rested 
on his breast, and lips met lips tremulous with 
contending emotions ; then there were tender, 
lingering adieus, and Frona stole noiselessly 
away through the shrubbery, a lovely white 
robed vision with golden hair, shaming the 
sheen of the gold, a gemmed fillet confining 
it away from her brow from whence it fell in 
shining waves, framing a face as beautiful as 
the face of a goddess and veiling a form of 
surpassing perfection. 

Motionless as the rock against which he 
leaned, but with face aflame and eyes full of 
tenderness and unshed tears, Invalou gazed 
upon her retreating form until the last faint 
glimpse of her white robe vanished ; then, with 
drooping head and drawn brow, he stood 
thinking; and as memory revived the sorrow- 
ful events of recent years the lines in his 
youthful face deepened into an expression of 
helpless, hopeless anguish, and his form was 
shaken by a tearless sobbing, pitiful beyond 
description. After a time this grievous 
paroxysm ceased, and into the depths of his 
dark eyes came a glow, as of hidden fire, ir- 
radiating his now upturned face, which in a 

56 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

few passing moments had grown so strangely 
mature and so startling in its intensity of ex- 
pression that Invalou Nyassa, the youth, stood 
revealed as Invalou Nyassa, one of the hand- 
somest and most noticeable men of the stately 
Wend race. 

Upward, upward from the invisible realm 
of the Supreme One, Diafon evoiha, had 
risen ; and now it neared high noon, when 
Andumana would look downward from His 
glowing abode upon the homes of his children, 
from whence many were hastening towards 
his temples to offer to him their reverent ador- 
ation, and to the Deific Ones, his messengers, 
their supplications for forgiveness of trans- 
gressions or for protection from danger and 
the dread summoner, Death. 

Presently the air became vibrant with the 
melody of temple bells, and the rapt expres- 
sion of Invalou's face grew into one of in- 
tense entreaty as with upreaching hands he 
reverently prayed: "Oh thou Supreme, Self- 
existing One, in whom there is neither begin- 
ning or ending of time : thou lookest back- 
ward and forward and knowest all things. 
Thou who art all wisdom and all power and 
who createst and destroyest as it pleaseth 
thee; thou who knowest thy children, who 

57 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

know thee only as thou revealest. thyself to 
them ; thou loving, just and merciful one to 
whom thy messengers bear records of the 
good and evil deeds of thy children, I, Invalou 
Nyassa, implore thee that thou mayest permit 
thy messenger to bear to thee a plea for mercy 
for two of thy sorrowful children who desire 
to serve thee according to thy expressed com- 
mandments, and who fear thy righteous anger 
should we take upon ourselves vows for which 
a mutual love which has existed through all 
the years of our young lives unfits us. Pity 
us ! Oh, pity and save us from an unwilling 
desecration of thy laws and of the ceremonials 
of thy holy temple ! If my plea shall meet 
with thy disfavor then are we lost to all hope 
of rescue, and naught but the silence of death 
can save us from a darker doom. 

"To thee, thou messenger divine, I com- 
mend this prayer to Andumana. Plead for us, 
that if we may not escape from taking upon 
ourselves obligations which we dare not as- 
sume, that once, ere we shall go into the Sil- 
ence, we may behold the dear faces of our be- 
loved parents, who, if they yet exist, are full 
of sorrow and loneliness. I have naught to- 
offer thee ; but for thy loving service I entreat 

58 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

thee to accept the adoring gratitude of my 
breaking heart." 

For a little he stood as though listening for 
a response to his prayer; then, with a heavy 
sigh, he took up the book which had fallen 
from his hands and went hastily towards the 
fLitzen Rinada, to assist at the noonday 
service. 



^Institution for the training of priests and 
priestesses. 



59 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER VI. 

Summer was merging into autumn and the 
red and gold of the *Indalufas and Asmonas 
glowed amid the yet unchanged greenery of 
other phmbs like masses of ruddy or golden 
flames. 

Aioit, amid the great crests oi the towering 
Budas trees, birds of varied plumage and song 
flitted to and fro, enlivening with harsh or 
sweeter notes the solitude surrounding 
Amatu, a not very extensive but beautifully 
picturesque estate situated at no great distance 
from Koidassa, the estate of the Nyassas. 

The lands of Amatu were low lying, and 
near their centre was, and indeed yet is, a 
spacious and substantial edifice of gray stone 
of a style of architecture partaking of both the 
antique and the modern, whose massive, time- 
defying walls were pierced by numerous win- 
dows, many of which were draped with a 
wealth of climbing, flowering vines, whose 
rootlets, finding foothold on walls and towers, 
distributed their luxuriant leafage in graceful 

fShrubs of large growth and fine foliage 
with insignificant blooms, yet very fragrant. 

60 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

wreaths and coronets of verdure and bloom. 

The interior of the residence was in strongs 
contrast with its severely plain exterior. 
From entrance to exit its halls and apartments 
were extremely ornate and exquisitely beauti- 
ful. All that wealth and refined taste could 
suggest found expression in its priceless art 
treasures and sumptuous furnishings ; but in 
neither halls nor apartments was a sound ot 
voice or of footfall. 

Nearby this residence were the homes of 
the families who cultivated the lands of the 
estate and, when necessary, performed such 
domestic duties as the proprietor of Amatu 
desired. 

Towards the close of a warm, languorous 
day whose hazy breath overspread as with a 
silvery veil the uplands tying about Amatu, — 
a day of a season which ever begets melan- 
choly and tender memories of joys or sorrows 
gone never to return ; memories through which 
one recalls faces and forms of beloved and 
lost ones ; memories in which linger voices 
like strains of dying music ; voices which, alas, 
will be heard nevermore. 

On such a day as this, when the slanting, 
golden beams of Andumana's abode were 
piercing dusky recesses and darkened nooks 

61 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

and tinging with a radiant glory the Towers 
of Amatu and the green sward of the broad 
valley across the lengthening shadows of the 
lofty Budas trees, noiselessly came one whose 
presence in this spot and whose appearance 
anywhere would have excited the admiration 
and curious interest of even an incurious per- 
son. 

As he slowly approached the entrance of the 
residence he glanced about him with the air of 
one acquainted with his surroundings. Noth- 
ing seemed to escape the piercing scrutiny of 
eyes overshadowed by a grandly imperious 
brow from which flowed such a wealth of sil- 
very-waved hair that scarcely did his gemmed 
silver fillet confine its luxuriance. In contrast 
with his silvery-hued hair, his dark, strikingly 
handsome face seemed of a deeper tint than 
others of the Tset-senna, the race of which he 
was a member and which is known as one of 
the most powerful races of Ento. 

After a brief but critical survey of the 
grounds and exterior of the residence, this per- 
sonage ascended the imposing flight of steps 
leading to the front entrance, when again he 
paused and looked afar over the broad ex- 
panse of the valley and upon the rising slopes 
of the uplands. As his gaze wandered east- 

62 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

ward, into his eyes and face grew an expres- 
sion of extreme pathos and sadness. Sudden- 
ly he turned and, pressed a metallic knob em- 
bedded in the massive framework of the great 
arched doorway. Noiselessly the doors moved 
into either side of the wall, and as he entered 
they as noiselessly closed behind him. 

Standing in the spacious hallway, he 
glanced through the gloom into the great 
apartments on either hand; then his eyes fol- 
lowed the grandly designed staircase, winding 
upward, until the pattern of the beautiful 
mosaic of the steps was lost in the hovering 
twilight of the domed ceiling. Under his 
breath he whispered, "Never again will her 
dear feet ascend or my eyes follow with ador- 
ing love her matchless form. Never." Then, 
as though with a certain shrinking reluctance, 
he turned towards a draped recess in the wall 
and for a time stood before it with bowed 
head and folded arms, his tremulous lips mov- 
ing as though in prayer or in self-communion ; 
but no word or sound disturbed the profound 
stillness. 

After a little he approached the recess, and 
slowly, hesitatingly drew aside the heavy 
silken drapery revealing the statuesque loveli- 
ness of a superb female form bearing in her 

. 63 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

shapely arms a mass of Roclel blooms and 
wearing on her beautifully curved lips a smile 
of adorable sweetness. Before this white 
vision of beauty the man sank to his knees 
with a moan so pitiful that it seemed to echo 
and re-echo through the lonely apartments and 
then to die away as dies the expiring breath 
of one going into the dread silence of death. 

Diafon evoiha descended into the realm of 
the Supreme One, and only its radiant after- 
glow decked with crimson and gold the drap- 
ery of the portals of Astranola. Yet silent and 
motionless the man remained. About him fell 
the shadows of departing day, and twilight 
deepened into darkness. Still he neither 
moved nor uttered a sound. 

Now a marvelous thing occurred, of which 
this man, Ouman Mitsa, left a carefully writ- 
ten record. On the death-like stillness about 
him fell soft, faint notes as of music from 
afar. Now they smote the air about him : anon 
they floated away and ceased, only to return 
again with such distinctness that the atmos- 
phere seemed vibrant with melodious sound. 
Then a strange, penetrating radiance lighted 
the recess, revealing the white sculptured form 
and drapery of the beautiful statue, which to 

64 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

his excited imagination appeared wondrously 
lifelike. 

Into his face grew an expression of ecstatic 
adoration, and, as his tearful eyes gazed upon 
the illumined image of his dead wife, in 
broken accents he cried: "O merciful, O 
pitiful gods, I am as one bereft of judgment! 
In yonder lifeless image of my lost Zoulene I 
again seem to behold her loving smile ; nay, 
more, to again hear the very tones of her 
gentle voice murmuring, 'My beloved, my be- 
loved.' Ah, this is madness ! The dead live 
not again ; and it is that ye commiserate my 
loneliness and unceasing longing for my 
adored, dead companion that ye accord to me 
this wondrous marvel of recalling, if but for a 
brief moment, a semblance of the woman who 
was my wife, my beautiful, my ever lamented 
Zoulene !" 

Ere he ceased his broken utterances the 
radiance died away, leaving the low prostrate 
man in complete darkness and silence. After 
a considerable lapse of time he gradually 
aroused from the lethargic state into which he 
had fallen, and, rising to his feet, he touched 
an electric appliance which instantly flooded 
the great halls and apartments with brilliant 
light. Sinking upon a couch he mused upon 

65 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

the strange scene which he had just witnessed, 
and which, I may say, was but one of several 
similar experiences which during ensuing 
years came to him. 

As he mused, into his thoughts came un- 
bidden questions, so persistent, so contrary to 
the teachings of our holy religion, that at last 
in utter bewilderment he prayed, "O ye Deific 
Ones, who have shown such a wondrous ex- 
pression of your love for me, who am so un- 
worthy; I beseech you to bear to Andumana, 
the Supreme One, my earnest entreaty that 
my understanding may so increase that I may 
be able to comprehend questions ever persist- 
ently coming from I know not where and tor- 
menting me with ceaseless unrest. It is not 
for me, who am woefully ignorant, to ques- 
tion thee as to the hidden meanings of thy 
will; but in deepest humility I pray that 
through thy compassionate love thy children 
may be made to see with clearer eyes, and 
with finer comprehension to understand the 
meaning of the existence thou has bestowed 
upon us. As I near the Silence I shrink back 
in terror from the thought that all that I am 
must be resolved into nothingness ! I would 
not be irreverent, O Thou Almighty, thou Su- 
preme One, but ever am I dreaming of a time 

66 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

when through thy love for thy children thou 
mayst create them immortal. Though my lost 
Zoulene and I shall never know the glory of 
perpetual existence, that it may sometime be 
vouchsafed to those thou mayst yet create, is 
the fervent prayer of thy unhappy son, who, if 
it might please thee, gladly would pass 
through the sacrificial flames, if thus so great 
a good might come to thy children of Ento!" 

Unable to longer endure the trend of 
thought into which his recent experience had 
led him, he hastily arose from the couch, and 
with slow hesitating steps passed from room 
to room, his shrinking glances encountering on 
every hand well remembered objects, which 
somehow seemed to have acquired the un- 
familiarity of faces not seen for years. His 
sensations were those of one in a half waking 
state, where the real and the unreal were 
strangely commingled. He was not able to at 
once realize that, during the four years that 
had elapsed since he had fled distractedly from 
scenes he could no longer endure, for him 
alone the faces of all familiar things had 
•changed : this was a truth that he comprehend- 
ed later. 



Four years ago his hair was as dusky as the 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

plumage of the harsh voiced *Raucca. Now, 
as he moved opposite a portrait of himself, 
painted a short time previous to the death of 
his wife, he started with an exclammation of 
extreme surprise and consternation ; and, as 
he stared at it in confusion and perplexity, he 
passed his hands over his face and hair, mur- 
muring, "Am I so changed, so changed? Alas, 
it is I, and not these inanimate objects, which 
doubtless are as I left them, that have 
changed !" 

Long he gazed at the portrait; then with a 
heavy sigh he passed on until he traversed the 
entire lower floor and stood irresolutely at the 
foot of the staircase, which, after a little, he 
ascended to the spacious landing, where for a 
moment he stood looking about him with the 
same shrinking glances that characterized his 
manner while surveying the lower floor. 
Then he wandered from one apartment to an- 
other until he approached a closed door at the 
front of the residence, where he tremblingly 
paused and seemed inclined to turn away. As 
though urged by a sudden impulse, he almost 
impetuously unclosed the door and entered the 

*A large, black bird. 

68 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

brightly illumined, daintily furnished apart- 
ments of his dead Zoulene. 

With closely clasped hands he stood for a 
time within the threshhold of the open door, 
his breath coming and going in deep quiver- 
ing sighs, his thoughts in a mad tumult of con- 
flicting emotions. Four years had elapsed 
since he had stood within this room, which 
was hallowed by association with the beauti- 
ful, the adorable woman whose love had made 
his life so full of contentment that he would 
not have exchanged it for the blissful existence 
of the Deiflc Ones. 

Zoulene had come to him when he was near- 
ing the noon of his days, when well earned 
honors and wealth had placed him among the 
foremost of Ento's distinguished sons. What 
Diafon evoina is to Ento, Zoulene had been to 
him ; for with the warmth and effulgence of 
her immeasurable love she had made his life 
radiant with joy. In return, no day was long 
enough in which to adore her; no night was 
welcome, for in sleep they were as though they 
we^ not. When days had dawned he had 
looked into her face and found there the frui- 
tion of all his desires ; when noon arrived, the 
radiance of Diafon evoiha was reflected in the 
glory of her empurpled eyes, and all she look- 

69 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

ed upon was made divine ; when darkness 
drew its veil across the face of night, she had 
rested in his sheltering arms, enkindling in his 
heart a flame so worshipful, so deathless, that, 
when she was called into the Silence he was 
for a time bereft of sense and consciousness ; 
and when finally he realized that he yet lived, 
the urned ashes of his wife and their still- 
born child were all that remained of the light 
and joy of his life. 

Like an inflowing wave these bitter sweet 
memories swept over his senses, and with 
bowed head and closed eyes he stood panting 
like an exhausted swimmer. This paroxysm 
of emotion passed ; and when he regained a 
degree of composure he turned, softly closed 
the door, and went towards a beautiful cabinet, 
which he opened with trembling hands. As 
he gazed upon its contents, he sorrowfully re- 
called memories hallowed by loving words, a 
kiss, or a fond caress. "In this casket," he 
mused, "are the gems she wore on our mar- 
riage day, and their pearly whiteness is not 
purer than was her fair face when it rested on 
my breast. In these blood red stones again I 
see the carmine of her lips, which were as 
lovely as the half-blown carmine buds of the 

70 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

queenly *Fluyna; and in her wondrously 
beautiful eyes was the luminous, purplish blue 
of these tRuytzas, which it pleased me to see 
her wear on neck and arms, where they 
gleamed like bits of Astranola's sacred walls." 

Into these unhappy memories suddenly, 
strangely dissimilar thoughts intruded them- 
selves, so suddenly and vividly indeed that he 
started and looked about him with an inquir- 
ing air, as though some one had spoken to 
him. "Ah ! How fanciful I have grown," he 
said. "My ever-present sorrow renders me 
so susceptible to the distress of others that, as 
note responds to kindred note, so responds my 
heavy thoughts to those of dear friends whose 
lives, like my own, are blighted until the end- 
ing of their days." 

Lifting the Ruytzas from their silken re- 
ceptacle, he turned them this way and that,, 
their glowing hearts gleaming like imprisoned' 
fire. As he watched their changing tones of 
purplish blue, he murmured: "The color of 
her lovely eyes ; yes, they are the color of 
Zoulene's eyes and of Frona's, the daughter 

* Resembles the rose ; colors : white, pink 
and crimson. 
^Sapphires. 

71 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

of her kinswoman, Avanna Nyassa. As I this 
day looked into Avanna's haggard face and 
listened to a story that chilled my blood I 
thanked the gods that our child had been called 
with thee Zoulene into the Silence. So in- 
censed was I by Avanna's recital that I en- 
treated the just gods to implore Andumana to 
cause the high priest to undo the wrong he 
has committed, or to avenge the immeasurable 
wretchedness of the parents who only exist in 
the hope of once more seeing the faces of 
their adored children. By thy sacred memory 
and that of our child, my dead Zoulene, I 
have vowed to do my utmost to unravel what 
I deem a wrong and a mystery. May the 
Deific Ones aid me in my endeavor!" 

As these thoughts surged through Oilman 
Mitsa's mind and fell unconsciously in broken 
sentences from his lips, he closed the cabinet 
and moved about with a certain timid hesi- 
tancy, as though he felt that he was intruding 
upon the sacred privacy of some holy one. 

Now his faltering steps approached the en- 
trance to the adjoining room, the sleeping 
apartment of her who only lived to smile 
upon the face of their newly born babe and 
into the eyes of the adoring husband and 
father. How vividly all came back to him ! 

72 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Suddenly she had paled into the whiteness of 
the snowy pillow supporting her golden- 
haired head, and into her wide open eyes came 
an expression of awful fear. A moment later 
Zoulene was embraced by the Silence. With 
terror stricken cries he took her into his strong 
loving arms, imploring her to breathe, to 
speak. But neither breath nor speech came for 
all his wild imploring ; but on the sweet lips 
a smile was dawning, the strange, mysterious 
smile of death. In a mad frenzy he cried to 
the dread God of the Silence to take him and 
spare Zoulene and the child : for reply, the be- 
loved forms grew cold and rigid in the em- 
brace of the implacable destroyer who spares 
neither youth nor age, nor breaking hearts. 

As his shrinking glances wandered over the 
great silent apartment, he remembered how 
the terror, the horror, the agony of it all like 
an overwhelming flood had rushed upon his 
senses ; and how, reeling like one intoxicated, 
he had reached out his arms, staggered to- 
wards her couch, and fell on his knees with 
his face on her pillow, where with sobbing 
cries he wept such tears of anguish as must 
have moved the pity of the gods who in their 
mercy overpowered his senses with sleep. 

The night wore on, and in the gray of dawn 

73 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

he moved uneasily. A moaning sigh broke the 
stillness of the room, startling him into partial 
consciousness. Raising his head, he brushed 
away from his face a mass of snowy hair and 
stared about him with a dazed questioning in 
his dark sombrous eyes. Suddenly a realiza- 
tion of the situation rushed upon his awakened 
senses. Wearily he arose, smoothed the dis- 
ordered pillow, stooped and kissed it, and, go- 
ing to a window, drew aside the heavy drapery 
and opened the casement, letting in the cool, 
moist morning air and the golden radiance of 
Andumana's rising abode, which already had 
set the clouds aflame with the glory of its life 
giving beams. 

Motionless, he stood gazing upon the 
changing tints of the slowly drifting clouds 
veiling the habitations of the Deific Ones, 
upon the waving crests of the lofty Budas 
trees, whose rustling seemed to fill the air 
with whisperings of some unseen mystery; 
upon the tranquil beauty of the vale through 
which flowed a sparkling stream fringed with 
shrubbery and a glow of autumn blooms; 
upon a white marble group which Zoulene and 
he, in their early wedded days, had designed, 
and from whose upreaching hands a silvery 
jet of water was falling in mist-like spray into 

74 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

a great basin, over whose white rim a wealth 
of foliage and flowers trailed and drooped to 
the surface of the water, which was stirred 
into ripples by the flashing forms of red and 
golden *Steffas. 

As his heavy eyes wandered aimlessly from 
object to object, he was conscious that the air 
was vocal with the music of birds, whose grave 
or gay plumage was flashing amid the leafage 
of the Budas trees and undergrowing shrub- 
bery or were darting downward to sip the 
water of the fountain. With a heavy sigh he 
remembered — ah ! yes, he remembered — how 
in the dawns of bygone days Zoulene and he 
had stood by this window to watch the awak- 
ening of the beautiful world in which their 
creator had placed them and how, as the 
beams of his shining abode rose above the up- 
lands, they had prayed that together they 
might share the joys of many days ere he 
should permit Death to call them back into the 
Silence. And then — and then . . . Not 
daring to further pursue this train of thought, 
he closed the window, and, perceiving that 
the house was still illumined, he extinguished 
the lights, and walked slowly towards the 

*Fish. 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

further room of the suite where was an ex- 
quisitely beautiful altar whereat Zoulene and 
he had offered their devotions to Andumana 
and the Deiflc Ones, and whereon they had 
laid the beautiful symbolic, red and golden 
blooms of the *Tsonia and fValseta. Ere for- 
saking his desolated home he had given in- 
structions that Zoulene's apartments should, 
until his return, remain undisturbed : so there 
on the altar were the faded, crumbling blooms 
that he and she had offered on the morning 
of the day which had brought birth, death and 
unspeakable sorrow into his life. 

Gathering up the unsightly, scentless things, 
he placed them in the altar urn, and for some 
moments stood as though he would offer a 
prayer; but in these moments a strange mood 
took possession of him and under his breath 
he muttered rebelliously : What shall I pray 
for? Not for Zoulene and our child: they are 
but a pitiful memory. Xot for myself, for 
erelong I shall be as they are, a handful of 
ashes — naught but a handful of ashes. Shall 
I pray for pardon for the madly rebellious 
thoughts which set my brain aflame and fill my 

*Red, lily-shaped blooms. 
fSmall, yellow blooms. 

76 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

heart with bitterness and intolerable anguish? 
What matters it whether I implore or adore 
Andumana and his messengers, whose ways 
are the ways of gods and whose will no prayer 
of mine may swerve to the right or to the left. 

"I am but one of myriads of created things, 
created for what purpose I know not. Were 
I infinite I would not create, only that I might 
destroy. No ! Through the infinity of my 
love and pow T er I would create only that which 
would reflect the glory of my measureless love 
and which should be as immortal as myself. 
Alas ! I am very finite, and I do not in the 
least comprehend the strange, unfathomable 
mystery of existence. I am as an imprisoned 
creature ever struggling for freedom, and the 
bonds which hold me fast lacerate and cut into 
the fibers of my very being. But I cannot 
escape ; save in one way, I cannot escape. 
Andumana, thou Supreme One, I am as noth- 
ing in thy hands; but through the anguish of 
my tortured mind, which thou hast given me, 
I dare to question thee. Why dost thou not 
give to thy children the one boon worthy of 
Thy Infinity : the boon of an existence as 
deathless as thine own?" 

Assuredly, only one of a desperately unbal- 
anced mind would have uttered such impious- 

77 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

words ; but in Ouman Mitsu's grievous sor- 
row one finds some excuse, or at least an ex- 
planation of his distraught emotions ; and 
doubtless it was thus that the Deific Ones re- 
garded his strangely confused thoughts and 
utterances, for he was not smitten dead before 
the altar, or in any manner punished for his 
irreverent expressions which we know were 
extremely censurable. 

It would seem that he anticipated some sort 
of retributive punishment, for after this amaz- 
ing outburst, in reverent and submissive tones, 
he prayed: "Thou who knowest all things 
knowest my thoughts. Do with me as it may 
please thee, for whether I may yet a while 
live or instantly may go into the Silence, I 
care not. I am Thy child out of Thyself: 
Thou hast created me. I am life of Thy life, 
and sometimes in my mind there is a thought 
that at death I may return to Thee, Who will 
not destroy a part of Thyself. If I sin in 
questioning the accepted interpretations of 
Thy holy writings, I pray Thee be patient with 
me, who desire to be righteous in all my 
thoughts and deeds. Thou knowest that in 
these later days many of the high priests serv- 
ing in Thy temples have grown arrogant and 
exacting to an oppressive degree; and I offer 

78 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Thee my grateful praise that in the latest 
revelation of Thy love Thou hast rebuked 
those whose misguided zeal and unrighteous 
self-seeking incited in them a desire to render 
Thy children entirely subservient to their per- 
verted will, even needlessly depriving parents 
of their dearest possession, the children Thou 
didst give into their keeping. For this inex- 
pressibly beneficent revelation of Thy will, I, 
one of the humblest of Thy children, adore 
Thee, and offer for Thy service all that I have 
and am. I entreat Thee, O Thou Mighty One, 
that Thou mayst so direct my ways that the 
remaining days of my life may be devoted to 
righting the wrongs of those who are op- 
pressed and assisting the weakness of those 
unable to sustain themselves ; for thus, in 
serving Thy children, I shall serve Thee." 

Then, with lowly bowed head, he fervently 
murmured : "Rau, Rau, Rati," and turning 
from the altar passed from the room and to 
the lower floor to summon the keeper and at- 
tendants, who in amazement and some trepida- 
tion hastened to welcome and to receive in- 
structions from the long absent and beloved 
Oilman Mitsa. 



79 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER VII. 

In the Litzen Rinada, known as Moutsen 
ken ava special preparations were in progress 
for the approaching consecration of ten youths 
and as many maidens, who soon would take 
upon themselves such vows as would set them 
apart from the vanities, interests and allure- 
ments of ordinary existence. 

I scarcely need say that in all Litzen 
Rinada s, during the years of preparation for 
the temple service, the training of novices is of 
a nature calculated to subdue all emotions of a 
disturbing character; and that this feature of 
their training may be constantly and thorough- 
ly tested, these youths and maidens are 
brought into daily association : which certainly 
is a wise regulation ; for, as all are aware, the 
temple service requires the dual ministrations 
of priests and priestesses, whose lives must be 
wholly dedicated to the observances of our 
holy religion and a practice of all the virtues. 

I make mention of this feature of Litzen 
Rinada training, for the reason that there are 
those who consider it unwise to subject untried 
youth to temptation; but, from such observa- 
tion as I have made, I conclude that the 

80 




Rodel — the National Flower of Mars, Em- 
blematic of Life and Death. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

strength of maturity is won chiefly through 
overcoming the temptations of youth. Hence, 
I find no fault with a system which for many 
centuries has found favor with those best 
fitted to form correct judgment. 

As the day of consecration drew near, there 
were among the novices some whose hearts 
were filled with anguish; for, now that the 
sacrificial rite no longer endangered their 
lives, gladly would they have returned to love 
and freedom. But having chosen their voca- 
tion, or having had it chosen for them, only- 
through a decision of the most high priest 
could they escape from it. But, as I am chiefly 
concerned in writing the pitiful story of Inva- 
lou and Frona, I must refrain from writing of 
the sorrows of others. 

Only once since the meeting of which I have 
already written had Frona ventured to, for a 
few moments, meet Invalou in their trysting 
place : but in a secret cleft of the rock their 
letters had found a safe repository. Thus r 
they had been mutually informed of daily oc- 
currences, especially of Zeydon's conduct to- 
wards Frona, which, while outwardly circum- 
spect, was of a nature to fill the mind of the 
timid, sensitive girl with constant apprehen- 

81 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

sion and terror, and Invalou with a deadly 
rage. 

As a preliminary to their consecration to 
the temple service, each novice was, as they 
yet are, subjected by the high priest to a pri- 
vate, individual examination as to their pro- 
ficiency and fitness for the sacred functions of 
priests and priestesses. The ten youths and 
nine of the maidens, having successfully 
passed through the ordeal, but one remained; 
and, in a moment, she, poor trembling Frona, 
found herself in the presence of a menace she 
but dimly comprehended, but which she recog- 
nized and shrank from as from something that 
was enmeshing her in the treacherous folds of 
an intangible web, against which her struggles 
availed naught. 

To assert that the high priest Zeydon was a 
deliberately wicked man, and faithless priest, 
would be a misstatement: for up to the time 
when Frona's wonderful beauty and that 
nameless something, which irresistibly attracts 
to some men and women the devotion of all 
who come within their influence had enthralled 
him, he was utterly emotionless ; and, even 
when the spell of her lovely budding woman- 
hood had stolen unawares upon his senses, he 
was as one too intoxicated to perceive that 

82 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

his feet were approaching a precipice from 
which ere long it would be too late for him to 
recede. 

Strange as it may appear, his infatuation 
for the hapless girl so blinded him to the true 
nature of his emotions that he began to invest 
her with the attributes of a goddess, and as 
one too pure for the ordinary uses of life, from 
which in some way she must be set apart. But 
one way was open to the self deceived, mis- 
guided man ; and, impelled by a resistless pas- 
sion, he resorted to the unquestionable power 
of his holy office to compass his purpose. 

Although, as high priest, Zeydon well knew 
that from his decision there could be no appeal, 
his unquiet conscience made him cowardly; 
and, while seeking for a pretext for the re- 
moval of Frona, he perceived that, in order to 
appear consistent, he must also remove Inva- 
lou, who was subject to the same supposedly 
pernicious guardianship of too indulgent par- 
ents. This decision arrived at, he soon found 
opportunity for consummating his repre- 
hensible design : and now standing before him 
was one of his victims, Frona Nyassa. 

To adequately describe the ensuing scene is 
quite beyond my poor ability. So, for even my 
best endeavor, I must ask your kindest indul- 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

gence — you who perchance may read this story 
of a bygone time. 

Near the centre of the audience room was a 
richly ornate *Plitsa, on which Zeydon half 
reclined : the crimson and gold of his robes 
contrasting finely with the tint of his dark 
complexion and the waving luxuriance of his 
flowing, dusky hair, held away from his hand- 
some face by the gemmed golden fillet of his 
priestly order. In his large, dark, luminous 
eyes was an expression denoting a very war 
of conflicting emotions, as Frona, with droop- 
ing head and face as pallid as Roina blooms, 
stood in trembling terror before him. 

Suddenly, through the violence of his emo- 
tions, a deathly, faintness seized him, and he 
felt that he was drifting into unconsciousness, 
— perhaps into the embrace of death. Greatly 
terrified, he staggered to his feet, leaning upon 
a nearby table for support. 

His apparently sudden illness so alarmed 
Frona that she cried aloud for assistance, 
which speedily brought Zeydon to his senses, 
but not soon enough to prevent one who wait- 
ed in the adjoining apartment for an audience 
with him, from rushing into the room and to 

*A sort of divan. 

84 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

his side. With much solicitude of manner, 
this person exclaimed, "Ah, your Sacredness is 
ill ! What can I do for you ? Shall I call for 
assistance?" 

The embarrassment of the situation quickly 
aroused Zeydon's sense of self-protection, and 
with a smile, he murmured : "No ! I shall in 
a moment be quite recovered. The duties of 
the day have somewhat exhausted my strength. 
Frona, my child, I shall until to-morrow defer 
your examination : so you may retire." 

Glad if but for one day's respite 'from an 
ordeal which she regarded with inexpressible 
dread, the girl, with a low obeisance to the 
high priest, turned to leave the audience room. 
But in that moment she raised her eyes, to en- 
counter the startled gaze of Ouman Mitsa, 
whom she instantly recognized as her kins- 
man, by whom, as a child, she had been petted 
and made much of. 

The recognition was mutual, and as Ouman 
Mitsa impetuously exclaimed, "Frona, Frona, 
thou image of my dead wife !" the poor girl 
threw herself at his feet, crying in accents 
that might have moved the sternest nature : 
"Tell me, oh tell me, dear kinsman, do my 
beloved parents yet live? Do the parents of 
my cousin Invalou yet live ?" Without waiting 

85 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

for a reply, she frantically cried: "Pity us, oh 
pity us, dear kinsman, and save us from tak- 
ing upon ourselves vows against which we re- 
volt, and from desecrating the sacred office of 
the priesthood, for which we are not fitted. 
Entreat, I pray you, this our high priest to re- 
lease us from assuming obligations which to 
us are more repellant than the silence of 
death !" 

With tears raining down her white face she 
clung to his knees, uttering such piteous, such 
heart-rending entreaties that Oilman Mitsa 
raised her to her feet ; and, despite the high 
priest's protestations, he said : "My poor 
*Zymas, my poor wounded Zymas ! Yes ! 
Yours and Invalou's parents live and love you 
both more than my poor tongue can express. 
But they only live in the hope of sometime 
seeing your faces. May the just and merciful 
gods so order their and your days that, before 
going into the Silence, your mutual prayers 
may find answer in the fulfillment of natural 
and righteous desires \" 

Turning to the enraged and discomfited 
high priest, with an air of apology and rever- 
ence, he said : "Your Sacredness will, I doubt 

*A cooing, gray bird. 

86 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

not, be pleased to overlook this outburst of 
surprised recognition on the part of my young 
kinswoman and myself. Your Sacredness is 
aware that my dead wife Zoulene was Avanna 
Nyassa's cousin ; and I may say that as a child 
Frona was as much at home at Amatii as at 
Koidassa. As our only child passed with its 
mother into the Silence, I have come to you 
to-day to inform you that it is my wish and in- 
tention that Frona shall be the inheritress of 
all my possession : an act which, I feel as- 
sured, will meet with Your Sacredness's warm 
approval." 

"As this is a matter for the private consid- 
eration of his Sacredness and myself I will 
no longer detain you, Frona," he said to the 
trembling creature who clung to his hands as 
though he were her only refuge — as indeed he 
was. Gently disengaging her clinging grasp 
with a reassuring pressure of her cold tremu- 
lous hands, and a glance of his kindly smiling 
eyes, she, with a profound obeisance to the 
high priest, left the room and the two men, 
who instinctively regarded each other with 
deadly animosity. 

In Zeydon's flashing eyes was an expression 
of such intense anger and outraged dignity 
that, had Oilman Mitsa been an ordinary man, 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

he would have quailed before this incarnation 
of priestly power and arrogant pride of office. 
But Ouman Mitsa was not one to quail before 
gods or men. With a rarely reverent nature 
for all that was truly sacred, righteous and 
just, was an innate abhorrence for all that 
was contrary to the teachings of our holy 
religion. And as he unflinchingly looked into 
the High Priest's eyes, he read there the story 
of one who, through either weakness or 
wickedness, had fallen from the heights of 
purity to the depths of selfish desires, which, 
like fierce flames, were consuming the best 
traits of a once fine nature. 

All this in a moment passed through Ouman 
M itsa's mind ; and, like one bracing himself 
to meet the impact of some tremendous force, 
he drew himself to the full height of his ma- 
jestic stature, and, with a suave smile and 
deferential manner, asked, "Have I Your Sac- 
redness' permission to speak?" 

The high priest inclined his head, but spoke 
no word. Neither did he raise his eyes towards 
Ouman Mitsa, who, in a very composed man- 
ner proceeded to say: "Your Sacredness, I 
would speak of a matter which, to you, must 
be of slight importance, but which is, naturally, 
to me, quite the reverse. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

"As you are aware, I am possessed of con- 
siderable wealth. Prompted by both affection 
and a sense of duty, I desire to devise it to 
one whom I regard as being more fully entitled 
to it than are any others of my kindred. 

"Not being blest with close relatives of my 
own, naturally I turn to those of my dear, 
dead wife, who, though gone into the Silence, 
ever exists for me ; and I cherish a remem- 
brance of her expressed wishes concerning all 
that was dear to her. As you perceive, I have 
passed the noonday of life and am approaching 
the borderland of the Silence. The dread 
darkness into which, inevitably, we all must 
go, and my imperative duty, as well as my 
inclination, urge me to so arrange my affairs 
that after I shall have gone no one my find 
occasion to question either my sense of justice 
or my sanity. 

"It may seem that this is a matter which 
should not have been so long deferred, and I 
regret that I have allowed myself to become 
so immersed in affairs of government as to 
have lost sight of duties lying nearer my heart. 
Now that I desire to make speedy reparation 
for my negligence, I have come to Your 
Sacredness, to request you to entreat the Deific 
Ones to release Invalou and Frona from in- 



S9 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

curring obligations for which it is evident they 
have no inclination. That my plea may meet 
with their favorable consideration, I will de- 
cote as an offering to the temple which is 
honored by the services of Your Sacredness 
one third, or even one half, of my large pos- 
sessions. 

"Your Sacredness, I do not appeal to your 
sense of justice ; for, being a high priest of 
our holy religion, your motives are not to be 
questioned ; but I do entreat that you may be 
merciful to the sorrowing parents of Invalou 
and Frona, who have authorized me to say 
to Your Sacredness, that for the release of 
their children they will gladly yield all that 
they possess ; that if they were remiss in their 
duties towards our holy religion, or towards 
their children, thir remissness was wholly un- 
intentional ; and they beg that their years of 
bitter sorrow may have atoned for the incon- 
siderate conduct. To offer further entreaty, 
would be to reflect upon Your Sacredness's- 
loving care for those whom Andumana has 
confided to your guidance and protection. 

"I beg to offer my thanks for your patient 
hearing of my plea, which you alone can fur- 
ther or render futile. And may Andumana, 
who sees and knows all that concerns his 

90 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

children, reward us for righteous conduct, and 
avenge himself upon us when we do unrighte- 
ous deeds !' 

With such gravity and intensity were these 
closing words uttered, that for a moment Zey- 
don felt himself trembling in every limb. But 
he quickly recovered himself, and, rising 
slowly to his feet, he regarded his suppliant 
with a look of such resentful scorn that, in- 
wardly, Ouman Mitsa recoiled from it; but 
instantly, with head erect and defiant eyes, he 
confronted the high priest as might an aveng- 
ing god, and, in that moment, both men real- 
ized that they were foemen and that the weak- 
est would perish in the fight. 

Summoning to his aid all his subtlest forces, 
with the shadow of a contemptuous smile upon 
his lips, Zeydon said : "You have come to me 
upon a strange, an unwarrantable errand. 
Who are you that you dare to interfere with 
the decrees of the mighty Gods ! In removing 
Invalou and Frona from the harmful influ- 
ences to which they were subjected, I but 
obeyed the commands of one of Andumana's 
Messengers ; and it would be more seemly 
were you to remember that obedience and 
humility are greater virtues than presumption 

91 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

and irreverence, which ever bring in their 
train degradation and disaster. 

"It is not for me to act contrary to the 
will of the Divine Ones : and I refuse to permit 
the selfish views of wrong-minded persons to 
interfere with what alone concerns the inter- 
ests of our holy religion, which by divine right 
takes precedence of all other interests ! You 
have my answer and your dismissal," he said 
coldly, then turned to leave the audience room. 

In the mind of Ouman Mitsa there was a 
momentary indecision. Then in a voice tremu- 
lous with suppressed emotions he exclaimed: 
"Hearken to me, Zeydon, thou high priest of 
a religion that is holier than thee ! Hearken 
to me ! I am not one who is irreverent in 
aught concerning our holy religion ; neither am 
I one who, under the guise of a friendly face, 
am in my heart a secret foe. And I tell thee, 
Zeydon-a-Gamala, that I distrust thee and thy 
motives, and I vow that by the aid of the just 
gods that I will do my utmost to undo the 
wrong that thou hast done my friends and the 
kinsmen and kinswomen of my dead wife, 
Zoulene !" 

"While he spoke, Zeydon turned about as 
though he would curse his daring and irrev- 
erent accuser. But with an imperious wave 

92 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

of his hand Ouman Mitsa restrained him, and, 
in a voice of concentrated anger and con- 
tempt, he advanced a step towards the enraged 
priest, saying in measured tones : "I do not 
fear thee, thou arrogant and cruel one: so 
spare thyself this expression of thy evil nature. 
Through Andumana's love and pity for his 
children, no longer is the sacrificial Rite de- 
manded : so do thy worst. But remember that 
I shall hold thee accountable to me ! To me ! 
Dost thou hear ? To me !" 

Leaving Zeydon speechless through indigna- 
tion, rage and dismay, Ouman Mitsa without 
ceremony left the audience room and Litzen 
Rinada, but not before Frona found oppor- 
tunity to slip into his hand some lines ad- 
dressed to him and to her parents. 



93 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Good morning, Gentola'. To your fervent 
prayer for guidance we respond with an earn- 
est Amen ! 

Ere continuing the narration of the story, I 
desire to say that you who already have 
learned much concerning my people, the En- 
toans, will understand that, to those unac- 
quainted with our laws and customs of both 
a secular and a sacred nature, portions of it 
may appear obscure. That I may render it 
more intelligible to those who may care to 
read that which concerns people of another 
Planet, I shall allude to certain features of 
the period during which the events of the 
story occurred; also, to certain usages which 
then, and, until the recent consummation of 
our mission, held the peoples of Ento in abso- 
lute bondage. 

You, Gentola, are aware that for more than 
four Ento centuries I have been in our spirit 
world, and that the events of this veracious 
story occurred long antecedent to my birth. 
At the time of my death I was yet in my 
early youth; and but once during my mortal 
existence was human sacrifice offered : and 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

that was voluntary on the part of a maiden 
who devoted herself as an expiatory sacrifice, 
hoping thereby to appease the wrath of Andu- 
mana, who, for some unknown transgression 
of his wayward children, afflicted them with a 
disease so fatal as to threaten their entire 
extinction. You may recall that during our 
Mission I had occasion to allude to the pitiful 
affair which occurred during my brother's, 
Inidora's, and my childhood, which left upon 
our immature minds a most distressing im- 
pression. 

Decimon Hufdas, the writer of the little 
story which I am attempting to relate, has 
stated, that when through Andumana's pitying 
love the peoples found themselves freed from 
the ever-present dread of having their dearest 
ones chosen as victims of the Sacrificial Rite, 
for which always the fairest youths and maid- 
ens were selected, their exultation exceeded all 
reasonable bounds, impelling them not only 
to a nonobservance of the commandments of 
the sacred writings, but, also, to a lessened 
reverence .for the persons and sacred offices of 
the Consecrated Ones. 

This reprehensible conduct the priesthood 
could not tolerate, and very soon the people 
were made to understand that, if they did not 

95 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

at once return to a faithful observance of their 
religious duties, Andumana would withdraw 
his manifestation of pitiful love, and again the 
Sacrificial Rite would be demanded. This an- 
nouncement speedily brought them to their 
right minds, and more than ever they became 
submissive to the requirements of the priest- 
hood, who, possibly unawares, grew more ar- 
rogant than formerly in their exaction of 
ebedience to their ideas of what was due to 
religion and to themselves. Finally, the people 
found themselves in a state of absolute sub- 
jection to the will of the high priests, who 
ruled them with the authority of gods. 

At the time of my departure into what my 
religious teachings had led me to regard as 
perpetual silence, but which, upon entering our 
Spirit World, I quickly learned was an en- 
larged life of inexpressible joy and progress. 
I, like all others, looked upon the priesthood 
as only a little less to be feared than the Deific 
Ones of Astranola. Thus you will perceive, 
that when the courageous Ouman Mitsa 
braved, not only the anger and power of 
Zeydon-a-Gamala, but, through him, the anger 
and power of the entire priesthood, he fully 
understood that he had placed his life in ex- 
treme peril, and that only through the inter- 

96 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

position of the Deific Ones could he hope to 
thwart their implacable enmity. 

I now will resume the narration of the story. 

Gcncssano A His I mo. 



The night succeeding Oilman Mitsa's inter- 
view with the High Priest Zeydon he passed 
in the home of the Nyassas, which he reached 
at the hour when twilight was hushing into 
stillness the noises of the day. Autumn, with 
advancing steps and chill breath, was busied 
with her task of lulling to rest the pulsing 
activities of nature, and tree, shrub and herb- 
age were laying for her noiseless steps a car- 
pet of many colors. 

Amid the feathery crests of the lofty Budas 
trees some belated songsters chirped or trilled 
their regretful adieus ere flitting to join the 
comrades in some warmer clime. From some- 
where in the distance came, at intervals, the 
harsh, mournful notes of the ill-omened *Gat- 
sika ; and over the great residence and its 
surroundings was an air of melancholy and 
neglect. All this Ouman Mitsa took in at a 
glance and gave it the tribute of a sigh, then 

*A large, gray, red-crested bird. 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

made his presence known to his friends, who 
gave him a welcome as warm as his own 
greeting. 

To fitly describe the scene following his re- 
lation of his interview with Zeydon and Frona 
would demand a brighter mind and a more 
facile pen than mine. Imagine, if you can, 
Liivon and Tillene, Damma and Avanna, a 
group of trembling auditors weeping and 
laughing by turns : for, in their almost de- 
lirious joy that their children yet lived, they 
momentarily forgot that they were as dead to 
them as though they had gone into the Silence. 

In their eagerness to learn all that Ouman 
Mitsa could tell them of their dearest ones 
their questions far exceeded his ability to make 
satisfactory replies. All that concerned 
Frona's appearance had to be told over and 
over again. "Does she remember me, her 
mother?" cried Avanna; and in tremulous 
tones Damma murmured, "I pray she may not 
have forgotten me, who love her so." With 
clasped hands and beseeching eyes they breath- 
lessly listened to Oilman Mitsa's assurance, 
that she remembered and loved them all ; but 
of her anguish of mind he wisely refrained 
from speaking. There was immeasurable re- 
gret that he had not also seen Invalou. "But 

98 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

lie lives, he lives !" sobbed his and Frona's 
parents. "Thanks to Andiimana and the merci- 
ful gods our children yet live ; and may not it 
be that knowing our sorrow, they may, ere we 
shall go into the Silence, permit us, if but 
once, to look upon the dear ones that Andu- 
mana did give into our keeping." And Ouman 
Mista fervently prayed : "May it be so, O thou 
Mighty One in whose hands are all the issues 
concerning thy helpless children; aid us, we 
beseech Thee, and may also thy messengers, 
bear to thee account of our thoughts and 
deeds ; for, alas ! we are sorely distressed and 
have no refuge, save our trust in thy justice, 
pity and love." 

The fervent Rau's of the suppliants died 
away like expiring breaths, and for a little no 
one stirred or spoke. Then Ouman Mitsa 
drew from his bosom Frona's unread letter, — 
a letter written by her own dear hand. What 
sobbing cries, what frantic exclamations of joy 
and surprise burst from the lips of Luvon and 
Tillene, of Damma and Avanna ! Why, it was 
as though the dead had returned from the 
Silence ! Only to see, to touch what Frona 
had touched so overwhelmed her mother that 
she cried : "Oh, hasten dear Ouman ! Hasten 
to read what our child has written ! Hasten, 

99 

LOFC* 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

for I am near death from joy that she yet 
lives — my child, my sweet Roina flower, my 

own, my " Her loving words died on 

her lips, for into Ouman Mitsa's eyes and 
paling face had come an expression which 
filled all hearts with terror and dismay : an 
expression so stern, so vindictive, that his 
usually benign face seemed transformed. For 
a space he stared at the letter speechless, and 
apparently with unseeing gaze, and no one 
moved or uttered a word. Save for their 
labored breathing and the terror in their ques- 
tioning eyes, they were as so many statues. 

At length Ouman Mitsa aroused from his 
state of mental absorption and, with pitying 
glances at the faces of his friends, he said : 
"You will bear with me, I know. I would 
not needlessly alarm you : but I perceive that 
the poor child's communication unhappily con- 
firms a half formed fear that of late has been 
torturing me, and the shock of confirmation 
has somewhat unmanned me. But I will read 
it, and then we will counsel together. Steady- 
ing his voice as best he could, he read poor 
Frona's letter, which ran in this wise : 

"My beloved, my adored parents — and only 
a little less dear relatives : In the moment of 
such anguish of mind as I dare not attempt 

100 









A ROMANCE OF MARS 

to express, this, our dear and honored kins- 
man, Ouman Mitsa, has appeared as though 
he were a god sent to us from the blest realm 
of Astranola. And surely, surely, Andumana 
has chosen him as a messenger between you, 
my dearest ones, and Invalou and me, your 
unhappy children, who long for death that we 
may escape a crueller fate. 

"I have so little space in which to write 
that I hasten to say that which is of most 
import. Our consecration to the temple service 
is near at hand. Invalou and I shrink from 
it with dread and horror, for, O My Beloved 
Ones, we, in our hearts, are as we would be 
in all ways, wedded to each other. 

"We well know that this cannot be, and 
we strive to be submissive to that which we 
cannot avert. But, Father, Mother, a great 
danger threatens me, your helpless Frona ; 
and, knowing that you are as powerless to 
save me as I am to save myself I shrink from 
revealing it. 

"Zeydon, the high priest (may the just Gods 
avenge us upon him ! ) has at last unmasked 
his false heart ; and now Invalou and I under- 
stand why he tore us from our home and from 
your dear embraces. He is faithless to his 
sacred vows and would make me a partner of 

101 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

his guilt: but be assured that he will fail in 
his abhorrent desire, for my Invalou. has sworn 
by the just gods that, even at the expense of 
Zeydon's life, he will protect my honor, — and 
he will make his promise good. It is only that 
I know not what evil thing may occur that I 
make this known to you, my honored and be- 
loved parents. 

"Only to-day have we learned that we are 
so near our dear home and dearer parents ; 
for when we were removed from Zeydon's 
residence to this Litzen Rinada we were given 
a sleeping potion, and, upon our awakening, 
we were made to believe that we were far dis- 
tant from Koidassa. Only through our dear 
kinsman's timely visit to Zeydon has the 
knowledge come to us ; and now I fear that 
through his commands our accustomed free- 
dom of movement about the grounds may be 
forbidden. If this should occur I know not 
how either Invalou or I may find means to 
convey to you further knowledge of our con- 
dition. I dare write no more, lest I may fail 
of giving this into our dear kinsman's hand. 

"That Andumana and the pitiful Gods may 
save and restore us to your arms, is the un- 
ceasing prayer of your loving children, 

"Invalou and Frona." 

102 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

While, in a voice tremulous with emotion, 
Ouman Mitsa read Frona's piteous letter, 
Luvon and Tillene, Damma and Avanna, with 
fierce anger raging in their minds and hearts 
clung to each other in shuddering horror and 
awful terror. 

To have had their children torn from them 
to be unwillingly thrust into the Temple Serv- 
ice had robbed life of all that made it precious, 

and now now Oh, it was maddening 

to think of the peril threatening their dearest 
ones ! Then came the natural protest of out- 
raged nature, and where a moment ago were 
four crushed and helpless ones were now four- 
determined avengers of the cruel wrongs- 
perpetrated upon them and their innocent 
darlings. 

As he noted their changed demeanor, ( 
Ouman Mitsa's strong, handsome face dawned 
a faint smile, a smile in which there was un- 
usual meaning. "So !" he said. "So, Zeydon, 
thou base and treacherous priest, we know 
thee now for what thou art!" Then, with 
eyes and hands raised towards Astranola, he 
cried: "Ye messengers of Andumana, who 
bear to him the prayers of his adoring chil- 
dren, hear us, hear and aid us, we implore 
you : Believing as we do in the justice of our 

103 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

cause by the majesty and glory of your and 
our Creator we swear, that if the High Priest 
Zeydon dares, save through the duties of his 
office, to touch one golden hair of Frona's 
head, we will hold him to such strict account 
that the Silence shall claim one more life to 
add to the sum of its strange mystery!" 

Then in a low, intensely earnest voice, he 
said "Lilvon, Tillene, Damma, Avanna : It 
may surprise and displease you to learn that 
I am done with blind submission to our priestly 
oppressors, who make of us slaves, rather than 
reverent worshippers of the one Supreme God 
and Creator of all things that are. Lately it 
has grown into my thought as it has grown 
into the thought of many that they pervert the 
teachings of the sacred writings and make our 
holy religion a burthen, rather than a blessing. 
Does this thought, dear friends, find response 
in your minds ?" 

Their exclamations of assent gave reply to 
his appeal, and he continued. "Ere we shall 
go into the Silence, at most but a brief space 
remains to us ; and since Invalou and Frona, 
whose young lives are but well begun, death 
is preferable to dishonor, shall we, who love 
them more than all else, hesitate to offer on 

104 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

their behalf all that we possess, — aye, even the 
days or years remaining to us?" 

The eager, tear-swept faces of the mothers 
and the clinched hands and drawn brows of 
Luvon and Damma were more eloquent than 
their expressions of fullest accord with his 
utterances. 

"Now," he said, "we must act on the instant 
lest Zeyclon may deem it wise to have us placed 
under restraint. So, dear friends, hasten to 
make such preparation as may be necessary; 
for at earliest dawn we must depart for Dao 
to lay before the Most High Priest Moukara, 
who is my kinsman and friend, a statement of 
your grievance : for it is only through his in- 
tervention that we may entertain the faintest 
hope of aid for our clearest ones. Though it 
may cost us all our possessions, aye, and our 
lives also, they shall be rescued, or we will go 
with them into the Silence." 



105 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER IX. 

Early in the day following the events nar- 
rated Invalou stole to his and Frona's trysting 
place, and in the secret cleft of the rock found 
a communication from Frona, which for a time 
drove him well nigh frantic. 

It informed him of her fortuitous meeting 
with her kinsman, Ouman Mitsa ; of what she 
had learned of their parents ; of Ouman Mitsa's 
desire to make her his heiress ; but of the re- 
sult of his interview with Zeydon, she could 
say nothing; that when she had put into his 
hand her letter to him and to her parents, he 
had said : "Dear child, do not quite despair. 
All that can be done shall be done for your 
and Invalou's rescue ;" that immediately after 
Ouman Mitsa's departure Zeydon also had left 
the Litzen Rinada, and that, ere going away, 
he had not recalled her to his presence : for 
which she returned thanks to the merciful gods. 

In conclusion, she said : "My Invalou, from 
very terror my heart dies within me. Surely, 
either the end of our days or some worse doom 
is near at hand. But I dare not wish for de- 
liverance at the hand of death; for, oh, heart 
of my heart, love makes my life so sweet that 

106 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

I shrink from going into the Silence, where I 
no more shall see thy dear face or hear thy 
words of tenderness, which lift me above envy 
of even the blest ones of Astranola. 

*'As yet, Zeydon has placed no restraint 
upon the small degree of freedom permitted 
us. But Invalou, my dearest, I fear lest these 
may be the last words that I may be able to 
convey to thee. Still, be assured that I shall 
spare no reasonable risk to keep thee informed 
of whatever may occur to thy loving Frona." 

Leaving to their sorrows and perplexities 
the hapless youth and maiden, we will, for a 
little, turn our attention elsewhere. 

Of the high priest's subsequent movements 
we possess certain information ; for, strangely 
enough, for a reason sufficient to himself, he 
kept a record of some peculiar experiences, 
which, to a degree, seem to have influenced his 
conduct. After his death, this record addressed 
to a certain person was found among his 
effects, and I have been permiitted to make 
such use of it as, in my judgment, may seem 
appropriate and just to both the living and 
the dead : for, though the dead go into the 
Silence and can make no gracious return for 
words of praise or defense against calumny 
to those who love them, their memory ever is 

107 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

sacred and, as it should be, only the good 
deeds of those who may have erred are re- 
membered. 

Thus, it shall be my earnest endeavor to 
cast upon the memory of the High Priest 
Zeydon no reproach, but rather to find excuse 
for the uprighteous deeds of one possessed of 
fine traits, but whose strength of character was 
not equal in all its parts. 

Upon leaving the Litzen Rinada, Zeydon 
returned directly to his residence, where he 
arrived at almost the same moment that 
ushered Ouman Mitsa into the home of the 
Xyassas. Without delay he repaired to the 
temple, and in evident agitation approached 
the sanctuary, at whose entrance he paused, 
apparently fearing to enter. Again and again 
he raised his hands to put aside the heavy 
silken drapery of the doorway, and as often 
they fell nerveless at his side. At length, as 
though some desperate occasion urged him on, 
he suddenly drew the drapery aside and en- 
tered the outer sanctuary. But once inside a 
very panic seized upon his senses. Stagger- 
ing towards a column, he clasped his arms 
about it to save himself from falling to the 
floor. As he leaned against it, panting as 
though for the breath of life, he muttered : 

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A ROMANCE OF MARS 

"Fool ! Fool and coward that I am ! Have I 
not already counted the cost? And shall I 
now, after years of torture of heart and re- 
morse of mind, weakly yield the prize for 
which I have risked all that I have and am? 
And if I win, what then? . . . What then?" 

Throwing forward his hands as though to 
ward off some impending danger, he cried : 
"O ye Deific Ones of Astranola, whose sinless 
nature so exempts you from human frailty 
that you experience naught of its love or 
hatred, of its joys or sorrows, or of its many 
temptations and lack of strength to resist them, 
have pity I pray you for one who has desired 
to do right, but who, alas ! has been too weak 
to resist temptation. In my extremity I en- 
treat you to save me from my depraved self, 
who am near the brink of ruin and despair." 

Then in tender pleading tones he murmured : 
"Soima ! Soima ! Thou god of this inner sanc- 
tuary, who hitherto hath been my guide and 
counselor, hast thou forsaken me that I no 
longer hear thy voice in chiding or approval? 
Have I so grievously sinned that thou carest 
not for my woeful state? In listening to the 
voice of my own evil nature rather than to 
thee, who sought to restrain my wayward 
course, I fear that I have offended thee beyond 

109 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

forgiveness. Oh that Andumana had not cre- 
ated me ! Oh that the Messenger Death might 
call me into the Silence ! Nay, nay, thou dread 
one, take me not at my word, for I am so dis- 
traught that my speech belies my thought !" 
Then in deepest anguish, he wailed : "In the 
Silence I should never, never more see her 
lovely face. O Frona, Frona, thou golden- 
haired one ! Though thou art as pure as the 
Deific One, and the fairest of Andumana/s 
children, through my adhering love for thee I 
am accursed. . . . Accursed !" 

His overwhelming agitation culminated in 
such agonized weeping and trembling that he 
sank to his knees, clinging to the column for 
support until exhausted nature produced an 
apathetic calmness. But ere he reached this 
state darkness had succeeded twilight, and 
only obscured light of the Sacred Sun of the 
holy inner sanctuary rendered objects visible. 
Then, wearily, he arose from his kneeling pos- 
ture, and, after some hesitation, approached 
the golden veil screening the inner sanctuary, 
drew it aside and entered within the radiance 
of the Sacred Sun, which pierced the darkness 
with such intensity that to shade his eyes he 
drew over them the loose drapery of his 
sleeve and, after a little, closed the altar screen, 

no 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

which left the sanctuary in partial darkness. 

Assuming near the altar a reverential posi- 
tion, he stood as though intently listening for 
some accustomed sound, and, as the soothing 
quiet of the place stole over his senses, he felt 
.as though he were drifting, drifting away into 
an unknown region, — a region so strangely 
unfamiliar as to fill his mind with extreme 
surprise. As his eyes searched the landscape, 
he perceived that many persons were passing 
in all directions, and that, although every- 
where there was a soft radiant light, some ap- 
peared as though surrounded by varying de- 
grees of darkness, while others had about 
them a more or less luminous atmosphere. * 

To him, his state appeared to be one of 
double consciousness ; for, while realizing that 
he was gazing upon an unfamiliar scene, he 
also realized that he was in the inner sanctu- 
ary of the temple. What most amazed him 
was, that he saw himself as two distinct in- 
dividuals. About one personality was a radi- 
ance so luminous, so beautiful, that he knew 
of naught with which to compare it ; while 
about the other was a dark, cloud — like en- 
velope, upon which was reflected from some- 
where what appeared to be thoughts and emo- 
tions, which he recognized as his own; and, 

111 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

as in great trepidation, he gazed upon the 
strange illusion, these thoughts and emotions 
assumed monstrous and threatening shapes, 
from which he in vain strove to escape. 

Ah ! what amazement, what shuddering dis- 
gust filled his consciousness when in these 
shapes he recognized the passions of arrogant 
pride, of vengeful anger, of hatred, of cruelty, 
of unhallowed desires and other base traits of 
human nature ! Oh the horror of it all ! the 
horror of it all ! And that hideous something: 
was Zeydon-a Gamala ? — he who had regarded 
himself as a holy man, a priest consecrated for 
the uses of the Deific Ones ! And now — how 
he loathed and shrank away from the dreadful 
creature that was himself ! 

And then, how it came about he never could 
comprehend, he seemed to hear the radiant 
personality gently but urgently calling: "I 
am Zeydon a Gamala : I am thy real self. 
Choose thou between the real man, the conse- 
crated priest, and the true reflection of thy 
baser self! Choose, and choose quickly, lest 
the Deific Ones decree that during thy re- 
maining days thou shalt abide within this mon- 
strous shadow, and not within the radiance of 
thy better self !" 

The voice ceased, but within the radiance 

112 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

of this personality Zeydon beheld reflections 
of all the nobler traits with which Andumana 
had endowed him, but which, through disuse, 
formed shapes as faint as mist wreaths float- 
ing upward towards Astranola. In deep 
shame and humility he cried : U 'I will abide 
with thee, I will abide with thee, thou radiant 
one." But even as he reached out after the 
luminous being, he felt himself so strongly 
drawn towards the darkly beclouded person- 
ality that in an agony of terror he cried : "I 
choose, I choose my better self!" As he 
reached out his arms, entreating the radiant 
one to save him from the monstrous being who 
sought to hold him fast, he staggered and fell 
prone before the altar, where, with haggard 
face and unseeing eyes, he lay until the sonor- 
ous chiming of the temple bell aroused him 
from the stupor into which he had fallen. As 
he passed from the sanctuary, the radiance of 
Andumana's shining abode was rising above: 
the horizon, setting the sky aflame with crim- 
son and golden banners of the Deific Ones, 
who thus herald the coming of the Infinite, 
the glorious Creator of all things. 



113 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER X. 

Gentola : — De L'Ester informs me that Dao 
is to the planet Ento what to many of the 
peoples of Earth is the City of Rome. Since 
ancient times, not only has it been Ento's capi- 
tal city, but it has also been the centre of 
ecclesiastical authority. What to Roman 
Catholic religionists Rome's greatest sacred 
edifice is, the great Temple Zim ever has been 
and is now to the peoples of Ento. Until the 
successful culmination of our mission, the ut- 
terances of its most high priests were as the 
utterances of Andumana, the Supreme One, 
whose representatives they were. 

In the ceremonials of the temple Zim ever 
a large number of priests and priestesses, the 
very flower of the consecrated ones, were en- 
gaged ; their beauty of person, their rich vest- 
ments, and those of the most high priest, 
adding much to spectacles of striking magnifi- 
cence and impressive solemnity. Especially 
notable were the ceremonials of the several 
seasons, — of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and 
Winter, when from all over Ento came devout 
worshippers to offer at its altars their most 
valued possessions; and, until Andumana's 

114 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

message of supreme love for his rebellious 
children abolished human sacrifice, many came 
to embrace for the last time their cherished 
ones, whose dreadful doom we of these blessed 
days of freedom, from an observance of the 
sacrificial rite, shrink from contemplating. 

It is recorded that the Most High Priest 
Moukara was of an exceedingly benignant 
nature. So eminent was the tenderness of his 
heart that it became proverbial, and to this 
day the expression, "'As tender-hearted as 
Moukara" is in common use. 

It is related of him that once, while walking 
in the temple garden, he espied a broken 
winged Zymas, which at his approach attempt- 
ed to flutter away. But being too badly in- 
jured to escape, it could only express its pain 
and terror in affrighted, plaintive notes. Put- 
ting aside the hands of an attendant priest, 
Moukara gently lifted the wounded creature 
to his breast, smoothing its plumage and, as 
best he could, allaying its terror. Then he 
bore it to one of his household skilled in heal- 
ing, who eventually restored it to its usual 
strength of wing; but its attachment for its 
rescuer had grown with its strength, and it 
so persistently sought to remain near him, that 
it became a great favorite of his leisure hours ; 

115 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

and at its death its ashes found security in a 
costly urn, which to this day is known as the 
Zfmas Urn. 

The relation of this incident may seem, as 
really it is, quite apart from the story which 
we are attempting to translate from our lan- 
guage into yours, which, owing to differences 
in religious beliefs, modes of thought and ex- 
pression, we find a most difficult undertaking: 
so much so that at times our manner of speech 
may appear obscure. You may believe that 
we are doing our utmost to render our mean- 
ings intelligible. Where we may fail in doing 
so we crave your gracious indulgence, as well 
as that of any who may read that which con- 
cerns people of another planet but who are 
children of one common Parent, whom we 
name Andumana and whom you name God. 

Genes sano Allis I mo. 
Early dawn found Ouman Mitsa and the 
Nyassas journeying swiftly towards Dao. At 
midday, with rich offerings in their hands, 
they attended the temple service, where the 
Most High Priest Moukara, clothed in the 
magnificent robes of his exalted office, which 
but slightly accentuated the natural majesty 
of his bearing or the admirable beauty of his 
benign countenance, offered to Andumana 

116 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

grains, fruits, and the red and golden blooms 
emblematic of his glorious dwelling-place. 

We who have beheld the greatness and 
grandeur of Ento's chiefest temple, who have 
gazed with awed and worshipful eyes upon 
its sacred ceremonies, who have listened to the 
wondrous tones of its incomparable *vouhoida 
whose volumes of sweetest melody so fill the 
vast edifice that to its vibrant tones the very 
foundations make tremulous reply; who, with 
intoxicated senses and adoring exaltation have 
heard the exquisitely harmonious sounds of 
the temple singers chanting praises of the 
glory and beneficence of The Supreme One, 
from whose shining abode glowing beams, 
falling downward through the immense Diafon 
evoiha of the central dome, bathed the won- 
drously beautiful, snowy altar beneath it with 
blended hues of red and gold; who have real- 
ized that in the sacred person of the most high 
priest we have beheld the representative of 
Andumana's majesty and infinite power, will 
readily understand the state of mind of Oilman 
Mitsa and the Nyassas as they gazed upon him 
in whose hands were the issues of their own 
and their children's happiness, or destruction. 

^Resembling an organ. 

117 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

At the moment of mid-day, the attendant 
priests and priestesses having drawn away 
from the central altar, the most high priest, 
raising his hands and his eyes towards Andu- 
mana's abode, in most reverent tones prayed: 

"To thee, who art our Creator, Preserver, 
and, at thy will, our Destroyer, we, thy humble, 
helpless children, offer our adoration and our 
supplication. We adore thee, thou Supreme 
One, that thou hast created us to enjoy the 
life thou hast given us ; and we supplicate thy 
mercy that our days may be many ere thou 
mayst call us into the Silence, to which it hath 
pleased thee at death to return us. For the 
wondrous expression of thy love and mercy 
which thou hast lately shown thy ignorant 
and rebellious children, we continually adore 
thee. And, even as thou art merciful to us, 
may we be merciful to each other and to all 
created things. As we may do unto others so 
do thou unto us. According to the measure 
of thy bounty, these, thy children, now desire 
to make to thee acknowledgment of their 
grateful thanks ; and I, thy humblest suppliant, 
entreat thy acceptance of such offerings as 
they have brought for thy service. Ran, Ran, 
Ran." 

Save for faintest notes of the vouhoida, 
11s 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

scarcely a sound broke the stillness of the as- 
semblage, many of whom, with murmured 
thanks or fervent appeals to Andumana and 
the Deific Ones approached and laid upon the 
central altar their offerings of precious things, 
then quietly returned to their places. Others 
before retiring ceremoniously entreated the 
most high priest to grant them a private 
audience, to which he graciously assented. 

The very last to approach were Ouman 
Mitsa and the Nyassas. Laying their offer- 
ings upon the altar, for a while with fervent 
prayers they entreated Andumana and the 
Deific Ones to regard them with favor. Then 
they drew near the most high priest and, kneel- 
ing at his feet, besought him that they might 
have private speech with his Sacredness. 

These suppliants must indeed have presented 
a piteous spectacle; so piteous that from the 
lips of the vast assemblage issued a sound as 
of one prolonged sigh. Into Moukara's usu- 
ally impassive face grew an expression of 
troubled surprise and sympathy, for, in the 
somber countenance of one he recognized his 
distinguished kinsman Ouman Mitsa, and, as 
his searching gaze rested upon the haggard, 
woful faces of the others, he recalled a memory 

119 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

of two newly wedded pairs who years ago 
had besought his blessing upon their union. 

With much kindliness of manner Moukara 
desired the suppliants to arise from their kneel- 
ing posture, and, after signifying that at mid- 
afternoon he would receive them, he gently 
dismissed the Nyassas. 

Turning to Ouman Mitsa he said, "I know 
not which is greatest, my pleasure or my sur- 
prise, at finding my distinguished kinsman su- 
ing for my favor, — but not for himself, I feel 
assured." 

With a profound obeisance Ouman Mitsa 
thanked him for his gracious courtesy, and 
said. "Your Sacredness, the cause of those 
unhappy ones, the Nyassas of a suburb of 
Leonita Tylu, who through my dear, dead wife 
are related to me, is mine also; and for its 
justness I pledge my honor and my life. May 
I hope that when they shall make known their 
grievance to you I may be permitted to speak 
to you on their behalf?" 

"Let it be so," replied Moukara; "and may 
the wisdom of Andumana and the just gods 
direct us in all our ways. At mid-afternoon 
with your friends I will receive you." 



120 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 
CHAPTER XI. 

Towards the evening of this most memor- 
able day, the inhabitants of Leonita Tylu and 
the surrounding country observed that along 
the line of the western horizon dark threat- 
ening clouds partly obscured the lingering rays 
of Andiimana's shining abode, which yet found 
expression in purple, crimson and golden 
clouds, flaunting their ever-changing beauty 
far up towards the zenith. Across the face 
of nature fell gradually an ever darkening veil 
of lights and shadows, which gave to all things 
a strangely unreal appearance. The breeze 
which during the day had tempered the un- 
usually sultry atmosphere, died away until 
foilage and flowers maintained a deathlike 
stillness. From the crests of the lofty Budas 
trees to the low growing shrubs, birds, from 
all directions, came in rapid flight, their in- 
cessant chirping and chattering betokening un- 
usual excitement. Noises from afar came drift- 
ing, drifting with startling distinctness, and 
suddenly the pealing of temple bells smote the 
hushed air with such impetuous volumes of 
sound that all things seemed to vibrate in 
unison with their rythmic tones. 

121 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

Upward, upward 'from the horizon, swiftly 
climbed the darkening clouds, their outskirts 
like monstrous wings overshadowing upland 
and lowland with ominous permonitions of an 
approaching tempestuous disturbance of the 
atmosphere. So strange, so uncommon, so 
alarming grew the indications of a destructive 
storm, that men, women and children hastened 
to city and suburban temples, seeking within 
their substantial walls the protection of the 
just and pitiful gods. As their flying feet 
sped onward, deeper, darker grew the murky 
cloud shadows, more and more profound the 
stillness that ever precedes a visitation of the 
powers of the air. 

Nowhere yet was stir of leaf or of blade 
of grass, and nature, hushed and breathlessly 
expectant, awaited the dread onslaught. From 
out the black bosom of the swiftly moving 
clouds vivid flashes of lightning illumined the 
awful spectacle, and low muttering thunder 
betokened the advance of the angry storm 
gods. In the temples the affrighted people 
prayed for protection against their pitiless as- 
saults, but their prayers availed naught, for 
almost instantaneously the profound calm gave 
way to furious blasts of wind, lightning, deaf- 
ening thunder and rain, which swept so madly 

122 



A ROMANCE OF MAR,S 

across the sky and over the face of the land 
that they left in their pathway death and de- 
struction unparalleled. 

In *Yaffa a Luytos, the temple of which 
Zeydon was high priest, cries of fear and 
despair mingled with the roaring rage of the 
elements, which shook the massive structure 
as though it were a mere bauble which at any 
moment might crush the terrified people be- 
neath its ruins. 

At the height of the tempest, a flash of 
blinding lightning, accompanied by thunder so 
terrific as to be appalling, smote the great 
crystal Diafon evoiha of the temple dome, be- 
neath which the High Priest Zeydon, with 
uplifted hands, was praying. Without word 
or cry he fell unconscious near the central 
altar, the fragments of the shattered Diafon 
evoiha crashing downward upon its beautiful 
statues and upon the prostrate and unconscious 
form of the high priest. Such consternation 
ensued that, for a time, no one ventured to 
approach the wounded, helpless man, who, 
stunned and breathless, lay as one smitten by 
death. Presently the violence of the tempest 
began to abate, and the people, recovering to 

*A noted Entoan Temple. 

123 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

3. degree from their terror, summoned Zey- 
don's attendants, who bore him to his resi- 
dence, where, under the skillful ministration 
of his physician, he was restored to life, but 
not to consciousness. 

Xot for centuries had that portion of Ento 
been subjected to such a devastating tempest 
as this one, which had swept from its pathway 
all that came within the scope of its terrific 
energy. The spacious and substantial resi- 
dence of the Nyassas, being outside its vortex, 
escaped with but slight injury; but the resi- 
dence of the high priest was not so fortunate, 
its walls being so shaken as to render it inse- 
cure for occupation. Until it should be re- 
stored, it was found that it would be necessary 
to house its inmates elsewhere. Koidassa be- 
ing near at hand and the situation urgent 
Zeydon, in an unconscious state, was borne to 
one of its spacious chambers, where for many 
days death stood upon the threshold. 

The lightning stroke and the wounds on his 
hands and head were but incidents along the 
line of causes which led to Zeydon's very dan- 
gerous condition. More than all else, his long 
continued mental struggle had induced a low 
state of vital resistance against any physical 
shock. Now, like a prostrate giant, he battled 

124 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

for life against formidable odds ; for almost 
immediately a violent fever attacked him, so 
dethroning his reason that his incongruous 
speech filled the minds of his attendants with 
surprise and alarm. 

In his delirium he raved of temple cere- 
monies, of instruction of the Litzen Rinada 
novices, of two strange beings who, to his dis- 
ordered mind, appeared to be contending 
against each other that they might gain posses- 
sion of him. So piteous were his appeals for 
rescue, so violent his attempts to escape from 
this imaginary danger, that they found much 
difficulty in their attempts to restrain his fren- 
zied . state. Other strange hallucinations at 
times took possession of him, but through all 
the tortuous mazes of his wild imaginings ran 
one most noticeable theme, to which his dis- 
turbed thoughts constantly returned. This 
theme was Frona Nyassa. 

To his attendants this feature of his ravings 
was incomprehensible. As they, in much trepi- 
dation, listened to his murmured praises of 
her loveliness of face and form, of her gentle- 
ness and charm of mind and speech, they 
marveled that the gods permitted a consecrated 
one, even in delirium, to associate his thought 
with mortal love. 

125 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

In the midst of a frenzied outburst of fan- 
tastic imaginings, suddenly his disordered 
mind would recur to the one dominant thought, 
and in tender, caressing tones he would mur- 
mur : "Frona, Frona, thou light of my dark- 
ened life, thou balm of my tortured mind and 
heart. 

''Frona, thou fairest and most adorable of 
all created things, turn not away from me 
in affright and anger. Ere I die I beseech 
thee to look, if but once, into the eyes that 
have found only thee worthy of my tenderest 
devotion. Look and let me find one expression 
of love, one faintest ray of hope that thou wilt 
suffer me to love thee, and I will arise and 
defy the gods who strive to tear me from thy 
presence. Ah ! thou art as cold as ice. Thou 
hast in thy heart no place for love: thou art 
too pure to yield thyself to human passion. A 
goddess art thou, Frona, for even in thy child- 
hood all hearts turned to thee, all eyes gazed 
with wondering admiration upon the marvel 
of thy exceeding loveliness, all lips smiled 
when thine were parted in laughter or in 
mirthful speech. Yes, a goddess art thou who 
hast taken upon thyself mortal form, that thus 
thou may st inform thyself of the joys and 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

sorrows, and of the good and evil emotions 
of men and women." 

Thus he would rave until, through exhaus- 
tion, he would fall into incoherent mutterings, 
or a stupor from which he would arou c >e, cry- 
ing: "It is I alone who have sinned; I alone, 
who am culpable; I alone who merit punish- 
ment. O thou radiant One who in the inner 
sanctuary didst reveal thyself to me, save me — 
save me from this hideous being who drags 
me down — down to dishonor, to degradation 
and to death ! Soima, Soima, thou mighty god 
of the inner sanctuary, come, oh, come to my 
rescue ! Save me, save me from this monster 
who tempts me beyond my strength ! Save 
me, or I shall perish in my guilt — I shall go 
into the Silence a self-condemned and wretch- 
ed man !" 

Through many days and nights of ceaseless 
torture of mind and body, Zeydon struggled 
for existence. But at last a period arrived 
when, emaciated to a shadow of his former 
self, and helpless as an infant, the fire cooled 
in his veins, the turmoil of his senses became 
tranquilized, and a blessed sleep closed his 
staring, sunken eyes in a forgetfulness so pro- 
found that it very nearly resembled the un- 
ending sleep of death. 

127 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

I pray that the just gods may account me 
blameless for writing that, while holding in 
my unsteady hands this pitiful record, which 
portrays some features of Zeydon's expiation, 
I find my heart throbbing with sympathy for 
his suffering, which, in a sense he certainly 
deserved. Were I a god I might righteously 
decide the extent of his deserving: being hu- 
man, I desire that only pity for his errors may 
find lodgment in my mind and heart. 

There are, I doubt not, those whose self- 
righteousness will impel them to pass merciless 
judgment upon Zeydon's weakness and his 
transgression of his vows of consecration. To 
such I would say "Thou knowest neither thy 
strength or thy weakness ; and until thou hast 
been tempted and tried as he was tempted and 
tried, withhold thy condemnation." 

I, who revere all that is exalted in Andu- 
mana, the Deific Ones, or in his children, find 
my no longer youthful eyes moist with tears 
as I read of the struggles of this man, whose 
nature partook of both the best and the basest 
traits of the human and who at last, through 
bitter anguish and earnest endeavor, overcame 
evil with good. So, through overcoming what- 
ever in our nature is least admirable, may we, 
as Zeydon did, arrive at a state of mind where 

12S 




Rosera — an Ento Plant not found on Earth. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

we may be able to perceive that at times the 
gods leave us to find our own ways that thus 
we may learn that Andumana, in not creating 
us perfect, has afforded us an opportunity to 
ever strive to attain to the height of our loftiest 
ideals. For in our striving we grow strong, 
and thus are enabled to resist temptation and 
to express in our lives that we indeed are the 
children of the Supreme One, who hath given 
us choice between good and evil. 

While leaving to your gentle or ungentle 
judgment the degree of Zeydon's guilt, I also 
will leave him to the watchful care of his de- 
voted attendants while I shall turn to a con- 
sideration of other interests. 

The expanse of country over which the 
tempest swept with such devastating fury was 
quite extensive, but its greatest violence was 
expended upon Leonita Tylu and its suburban 
village. From the southwest to the northeast 
it rushed with indescribable velocity, leaving 
the northwestern portion of the city in ruins 
and killing and maiming many of the in- 
habitants. Fortunately Moutsen ken ava was 
a little aside from the pathway of its greatest 
energy else its destruction must have been com- 
plete. As it was, the immense structure, with 
the exception of a lecture hall and the central 

129 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

audience room was razed to its foundation. 
To add to the danger and horror of the situa- 
tion, from a wrecked out-building fire burst 
forth, spreading with such frightful rapidity 
that only the tremendous downpour of rain 
and the strenuous efforts of many willing 
hands after a time extinguished it, but not 
until it destroyed much that was of value. 

At the time it was considered remarkable 
that none of the inmates of the Litzen Rinada 
were killed instantly, but a large number were 
more or less injured, some fatally. Aside from 
a severe contusion of one arm Iavalou escaped 
injury, but Frona was less fortunate. Fleeing 
for safety from one wrecked portion of the 
Litzen Rinada to another, which a moment 
later met with a like disaster, a flying timber 
struck her down rendering her unconscious 
and fracturing a limb in a most serious man- 
ner. 

Amid the terror and confusion of the awful 
visitation she and Invalou frantically had 
sought each other but it was not until the 
tempest died away into fitful gusts of wind 
and rain that, aided by incessant electric 
flashes, which lighted up the darkness, Inva- 
lou found the unconscious girl whom he 
thought dead. Taking her up in his strong, 

130 



A ROMANCE OF MA.RS 

loving arms, he bore her to the audience room, 
where were congregated the resident physi- 
cian, Amman Elda, and the terrified injured 
and uninjured priests and novices. Presently, 
under the influence of restoratives, Frona re- 
vived and made known her condition, which 
demanded immediate attention. This Ammen 
Elda sought to give, but through lack of 
proper appliances, he could not for the im- 
mediate moment afford her and other injured 
ones even relief. On every hand were en- 
treaties for assistance, but so unprecedented 
was the calamity which had befallen the city 
and its suburbs that it was found impossible 
to at once provide sufficient accommodation 
for the many injured persons, whose cries and 
moans filled all minds with consternation and 
commiseration. 

Several of the resident priests being badly 
injured also required attention, while those 
who were uninjured were so overwhelmed by 
the disaster which had befallen the Litzen 
Rinada and its inmates, that for a time they 
were in a state of helpless bewilderment as to 
how to dispose of their hapless charges. 

As the situation admitted of no delay, Inva- 
lou suggested that he with Frona and other in- 
jured ones might be conveyed to the residence 

131 . 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

of his and Frona's parents, where, he assured 
the distraught priests, they would receive wel- 
come hospitality and all necessary attention. 
But, until the high priest should be heard 
from, no one dared to accept his proposition. 
Very soon the appalling news arrived that 
through a lightning shock he was dead at 
Yaffa a luytos. As no other solution of the 
difficulty presented itself, it was decided that 
Invalou's proposition should immediately be 
carried into effect. 



.82 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 
CHAPTER XII. 

In Dao, Ouman Mitsa and the Nyassas, in 
agonizing, trembling expectancy, awaited the 
decision of the Most High Priest Moukara, in 
which was involved all that concerned the 
safety and happiness of themselves and their 
beloved children. 

The critical moment having arrived, they 
found themselves in the presence of Moukara, 
whose kindly smile and gracious manner af- 
forded them assurance of at least a friendly 
hearing. To Luvon and Damma he expressed 
a desire that they should, as directly as pos- 
sible, state the occasion of their seeking an 
audience with him. 

Damma, being the more fluent speaker, re- 
lated with much earnestness and precision the 
events leading to their most unhappy condition, 
and with the passionate language of a loving 
father besought the most high priest to judge 
between them and the High Priest Zeydon's 
arbitrary views. 

To this appeal Moukara listened with most 
tolerant attention. Then, turning to Luvon, 
Tillene and Avanna, he closely interrogated 
them concerning the discharge of their religi- 

133 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

ous duties, involving as they must their duties 
towards their children. Finally he asked : 
"Have you continually sought to teach your 
children, whom Andumana gave into your 
keeping, the obligations of our holy religion? 
Have you, at all times, made generous ac- 
knowledgment of all the bounteous blessings 
he has bestowed upon you and yours? With- 
holding naught that might be adverse to your 
cause, answer me truly." 

Avanna, more impetuous than Tillene, burst 
into such a torrent of eloquent assertion and 
fervent appeal that for a time the sympathy of 
the man so dominated the dignity and self- 
control of the priest that, to conceal his emo- 
tion, he turned his head aside. 

In closing her unstudied appeal, Avanna, 
with most graceful movement, threw herself 
at Moukara's feet and pressed the border of 
his robe to her quivering lips, murmuring: 
"O Most High Sacredness, in the early days 
of our wedded life thou didst bless the union 
of Luvon and Tillene, of Damma and myself, 
and we pray that thou mayst not allow the 
inconsiderate act of one whose judgment was 
at fault to set at naught the benediction thou 
didst bestow upon us !" 

Surely some pitiful god must have inspired 

134 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Avanna to utter these words, and, as she 
timidly and reverently raised her wondrously 
beautiful eyes towards Moukara's years van- 
ished, and he recalled the memory of an almost 
divinely lovely bride, upon whose golden- 
haired head he had laid his hands in benedic- 
tion. 

Stooping from his majestic height he clasped 
her hands within his own and raised her to 
her feet. "Be at peace," he said. "Thou 
child of the One whose creative power hath 
made thee and me and these thy kindred of 
one flesh ; if thou and these children of Andu- 
mana have suffered wrong at the hands of one 
who should protect thee and them, the just 
gods will right thee and them !" 

Turning to Ouman Mitsa, whose benignant,, 
handsome countenance varying emotions were 
paling and flushing by turns, Moukara saidr. 
"Silence, my kinsman, sits well upon thy lips. 
But now I would hear thy speech in behalf: 
of these, thy kindred and friends." 

Among the distinguished personages of his 
day Ouman Mitsa's eloquence was considered 
preeminent, and now, with his theme so near 
his heart, Moukara listened to his words as 
though bereft of all sense save hearing; and, 
when, in concluding his appeal, he read to the 

135 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

shocked and astounded dignitary Frona's 
piteous letter, such a rush of color overspread 
his fine face and such an indignant gleam en- 
kindled his splendid eyes that, for a moment, 
his suppliants were alarmed lest some evil 
thing might befall him. But quickly he re- 
gained his composure, and with much suavity 
of manner said : "Ouman, my dear kinsman, 
I could not have expected less of thee than 
what thou art attempting to accomplish for 
these, thy peculiarly unfortunate relatives and 
friends. I recall that, at the time their chil- 
dren were placed in the Litzen Rinada, I was 
appealed to for a decision as to the propriety 
of their removal from fhe care of their parents, 
who were represented to me as having been 
remiss in their religious and parental obliga- 
tions. I reproach myself that I permitted the 
stress of many cares to interfere with a closer 
scrutiny of the case, which I now perceive 
should have received my careful attention. Be 
assured that I shall not delay a righteous ad- 
justment of this lamentable affair." 

With further words of kindliest import 
Moukara was about to dismiss them, when 
upon all ears fell a most alarming sound : the 
sonorous ringing of the great temple bell, in- 
dicating, through its peculiar signal strokes, 

136 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

that some imminent danger threatened some 
portion of Ento. 

Instantly summoning an attendant, Mou- 
kara received information which fell, for the 
moment, upon the ears of his suppliants with 
stupefying force. 

An awful, an appalling tempest was sweep- 
ing over a portion of Leonita T5 T lii and the 
country southwest of the city. 

That was all that was yet known, but it 
was sufficient to fill the minds of the Nyassas 
and Oilman Mista with direst apprehension 
for the safety of Invalou, Frona and many 
dear friends. With grateful but somewhat 
incoherent expressions of their appreciation of 
Moukara's kindness and consideration, they 
received his blessing and hastened away to 
learn further of what had befallen the un- 
fortunates of the storm-swept localities. 



137 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER XIII. 

To facilitate a clearer understanding of cer- 
tain features of this little story, it seems ad- 
visable that I shall offer such information as 
may render intelligible what otherwise may 
appear inconclusive. 

Decimon Huydas, the author of the story, 
was not a writer of fiction, but a noted mathe- 
matician; hence, his style lacks the continuity 
and conciseness of the trained literary writer. 
I might take the liberty of arranging the 
events and incidents of the story to suit my 
own ideas, but I prefer that my recital shall 
retain his quaint manner of expression. As 
he did not anticipate that "A Romance of 
Ento" might become known to the peoples of 
another planet, he confined himself to what 
concerned the peoples of his own world and 
time. 

Inferentially, he conveys the information 
that in his time, corresponding, De L'Ester 
says, to your ninth century, travellers passed 
quickly from one locality to another. Natur- 
ally, queries may arise as to what manner of 
conveyance made this possible. Without en- 
tering into particulars as to the various means 

138 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

of transportation on our planet, I may say 
that long antecedent to your earliest historical 
records, both land and air transportation had 
with us become so perfected as to afford safe 
and speedy conveyance for all the require- 
ments of travel and commerce. I also may 
state that with us wireless telegraphy has been 
in common use during many Ento centuries. 

On our side of life it is well known that, 
in time, the humans of all planets of like con- 
ditions arrive at, or near, the same conclu- 
sions. How can it be otherwise, since in the 
human are all the infolded possibilities of 
infinite, intelligent creative force : and, given 
like, or similar, conditions, imperative, im- 
mutable law compels unfoldment in like, or 
similar directions. Thus it occurs that, Ento 
and Earth being much alike as to constitution 
and conditions, evolvement of both planets 
and all pertaining to them must proceed along 
similar lines. 

It may not be amiss to say, that we are able 
to perceive that in the near future a man of 
your people will so perfect air transportation 
as to make it practicable ; and that, ere long 
another inspired mind will astound your 
world with a discovery by which your fuel may 
be so cheaply procured from outside the earth, 

139 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

that your coal mining horrors will become an 
unpleasant memory of the past. 

I now will resume the relation of "A Ro- 
mance of Ento," which, I doubt not, my au- 
ditors will feel inclined to pronounce a tragedy 
as well as a romance. 

Gcncssano Allis Immo. 

During the night succeeding the tempest, 
from all over the area devastated by its ter- 
rific energies, arose agonizing cries of distress 
of mind and body. In rural localities the 
destruction of life was remarkably great. 
Whole villages having been drawn within its 
vortex, were left shapeless ruins, amid which 
the dead, the dying, the injured and the grief- 
stricken and terrified survivors presented a 
ghastly and heart-rending spectacle. 

Upon the southwestern and beyond the 
northeastern suburbs of the city, the tempest 
concentrated its utmost fury; so sudden was 
its coming that everyone was so overwhelmed 
with fear that they scarcely attempted to pro- 
tect themselves. 

It cannot be said that the residents of the 
city and surrounding villages were not fore- 
warned as to the possible destructive energy 

140 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

of the approaching tempest, for indeed its 
course and velocity were duly signalled. But 
so swiftly had it swept over them that in a 
few awful moments it came and was gone* 
leaving in its pathway desolation unspeakable. 
To the survivors of the calamity it ever was a 
memory filled with grief and horror. 

Ere the tempest had quite spent itself all 
Ento knew of the terrible disaster that had 
befallen their unfortunate brothers and sisters, 
and quickly air transports and *Tuzamos were 
carrying to their assistance men and women 
skilled in the sciences of surgery and healing, 
and all that minds, hearts and generous means 
could offer was placed at the service of the 
sufferers, to whom that first night of dismay 
and sorrow was one continuous horror. 

To Invalou and Frona, that which had so 
suddenly, so unexpectedly, befallen them was 
as a half-waking dream. Only their physical 
pain seemed real. That in a short time thev 
might be in the arms of their beloved parents 
was beyond their power of realization. But 
Frona's case growing more and more alarm- 
ing, and no immediate means being available 
for her relief, it became imperative to remove 

^Tramway carriages. 

141 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

her at once to Koidassa. Under the influence 
of an opiate, which rendered her insensible to 
her condition, accompanied by Invalou and 
other injured ones, she was quickly borne to 
the home of her childhood. 

In the early dawn she slowly awakened to 
the consciousness that she was in her own 
room and lying upon the pretty couch she so 
well remembered. And oh! joy of joys su- 
preme, over her bent the faces of her dear 
parents, and close by were Invalou, his parents 
and Ouman Mitsa, on whose tear-swept coun- 
tenances she read joy and love unutterable. 

In presence of such a sacred scene, well 
might one's eyes fall abashed. Only the just 
gods, who in their own inscrutable way had 
made it possible, could with tearless eyes have 
looked upon the marvelously strange reunion 
of parents and children, who through hopeless 
years had longed for each other as we all long 
for a sight of the faces and forms of our dear 
dead whom, alas, we know we shall see no 
more. 

So great was the joy of once more beholding 
their dearest ones, that for the time neither 
Invalou's or Frona's parents thought of what 
the future might bring to them and their chil- 
dren. It was enough to have recovered them 

142 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

if but for a day. By her parents even Frona/s 
serious injury was regarded as an immeasur- 
able blessing, for had not it been the means 
through which their darling had been brought 
to their arms? Aye! to their arms which had 
so longed to embrace their beloved, their 
beauteous daughter, now grown and ripened 
into a womanhood of such exquisite and won- 
derful loveliness as to be incomparable — so in- 
comparable, indeed, that one can find excuse 
for her fond father saying, "Damma, heart of 
my heart think me not foolish : but our child 
is so beautiful, so marvelously charming, that 
in my mind I find growing a sense of pity for 
Zeydon. Even a god might not gaze unmoved 
upon her matchless loveliness." 

And the proud and loving husband and 
father smiled fondly into his wife's eyes as 
"he said, "As the child is, so wert thou, my 
■dearest one, when the gods gave thee to me." 

In both Koidassa and Amatu, which yet are 
substantial and handsome residences, are por- 
traits of Invalou and Frona, painted about one 
year later than the period in which the tempest 
occurred. I question if on all Ento are two 
personalities surpassing in charm of feature 
.and form the son and daughter of the Nyassas. 

Aside from the serious fracture of Frona's 

143 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

limb it soon became apparent that she had re- 
ceived other alarming injuries, and for a time 
her condition was too precarious to admit of 
her being informed that Zeydon, also, was an 
inmate of Koidassa. At intervals faint tones 
of his delirious ravings reached her ears, but 
as she was aware that there were other suf- 
ferers in the spacious residence, the sounds 
were easily accounted for. Neither, at the 
time, was she informed that in one apartment 
death had noiselessly entered and had borne 
into the Silence a maiden novice who in the 
Litzen Rinada had been her dearest friend and 
closest companion. Azeon, the god of love, 
never had touched the heart of this maiden, 
through whose unkissed lips the breath of her 
young life departed into nothingness ; but her 
woman's heart had read Invalou's and Frona's 
secret, and she had guarded it as though it 
were her own. Loving hearts mourned over 
her dead body, and loving hands bore it ten- 
derly away to receive the last sad service they 
could offer. 

As assuredly it should be the influence of 
our holy religion dominates the thoughts and 
conduct of all right-minded persons. Being" 
the highest expression of human advancement, 
naturally it should take precedence of the civil 

144 




A Flower of Ento, Name Unknown. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

government, which, through various exigen- 
cies, must necessarily accommodate its func- 
tions to changed conditions. Not so our holy 
religion, which never changes. 

It is true that since the establishment of its 
sacred doctrines and rites, Andumana, in ac- 
cordance with his will, from time to time 
hath, through his highest representatives, our 
most high priests, granted to his children 
special proofs of his boundless love for them : 
but our holy religion and its admirable cere- 
monials remain, and ever will remain, un- 
changed. With a full understanding of its 
demands, to Oilman Mitsa and the Nyassas, 
who were dutiful children of Andumana and 
devout observers of his Commandments, it 
did riot occur to question the authority of his 
highest representative, the Most High Priest 
Moukara. So between hope and fear the days, 
passed, and they awaited the decision which 
for them meant life and immeasurable joy, or 
death and endless Silence. 

All the avenues of information being open 
to the Most High Priest, he readily procured 
minutest information concerning the lives of 
the Nyassas, which he found singularly blame- 
less. Even their altar offerings had been 
munificent, and, wherever required, their gen- 

145 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

erosity had been so unsparing as to be notice- 
able. As for their instruction of their chil- 
dren, it had ever been of a character to im- 
press their young minds with most exalted 
views concerning religion and the ordinary 
duties of life. And among their numerous 
friends, indeed by all with whom they shared 
a mutual acquaintance, their children were con- 
sidered models of fine conduct. 

He also learned that, late in the afternoon 
of the memorable evening of Invalou's and 
Frona's removal to Moutsen ken ava, with 
positive instruction to return in time for the 
temple service, they had permitted the children 
to row on the lake. Unfortunately, they were 
a little belated, which afforded the High Priest 
Zeydon the color of an excuse for the separa- 
tion from their parents. This and more of 
favorable import came to the most high priest's 
knowledge, but until Tymonas, the wise and 
just god of the inner sanctuary of the Temple 
Zim, should declare Andiimana's mind, Mou- 
kara would not presume to speak concerning 
the disposition of their children. 

Though I do not mean to unduly palliate 
Zeydon's offense, while reading the faded rec- 
ord of his expiation I find myself somewhat 
resentful towards certain persons w T ho, at the 

146 



A ROMANCE O^ MARS 

time it was made known, and since, have in a 
self-righteous manner commented upon his 
strange conduct. While one must admit that 
in his behavior towards the Nyassas he did 
not do as he would have desired another to do 
by him, one must also admit that he was sorely 
tempted, else he never could have so dis- 
honored, not only his vows of consecration, 
but his position as High Priest of Yaffa a 
Lu5 T tos. 

It may be thought that I, who am so far 
advanced in years, should be less lenient and 
more critical in my estimation of the behavior 
of others. But as the passing days draw me 
nearer to the Silence I find myself looking 
backward to my youth, when I, too, loved one 
of Ento's fairest and sweetest daughters. Un- 
til death stole her from my arms I so adored 
her, that in comparison with her all else was 
valueless. Though many years have gone 
since I was left in loneliness, even yet the 
memory of my beloved, lost Elza inclines my 
heart to sympathize with all who lose them- 
selves in the mazes of the resistless passion : 
whose rewards are joy ineffable, or despair 
unfathomable. 

I am far from being so presumptuous as to 
compare my characteristics with those of one 

147 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

so exalted as the Most High Priest Moukara, 
who by sacred historians is mentioned as a 
man of extreme purity of mind and heart, and 
as one who ever tempered justice with mercy. 
But I readily understand, that in considering 
Zeydon's case he would take into account, that 
though he had greatly sinned, he also had suf- 
fered much. 

Of all that concerned Zeydon, Invalou and 
Frona, he finally became fully aware ; and as 
he considered the strange combination of cir- 
cumstances which had brought to them such 
remarkable and almost fatal results he became 
strongly confirmed in the belief that, through 
Andumana's permission, the mighty gods are 
largely the arbiters of the affairs of men. 

Immediately after the storm subsided the 
peoples of our beloved Ento became informed 
as to particulars concerning its lamentable de- 
struction of life and property; of the High 
Priest Zeydon's probably fatal injury and re- 
moval to Koidassa ; of what had befallen Inva- 
lou and Frona, and of their return to the home 
of their parents ; of the partial destruction of 
the high priest's residence ; of the almost total 
demolition of Moiitsen ken ava, and of the dis- 
tribution of the uninjured priests and novices 
among other Litzen Rinadas. From many 

148 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

sources came messages of sympathy and gen- 
erous proffers of assistance. 

Upon investigation, the temple residence 
was found in such a ruinous state as to re- 
quire its entire reconstruction ; and when at 
last the prematurely aged and broken Zeydon 
gazed upon the spacious and beautiful struc- 
ture which, through the sympathy, piety and 
munificence of those under his charge, was 
nearing completion, his tearful eyes and quiv- 
ering lips attested to his appreciation of the 
kindness of those whom formerly he had re- 
garded as mere appendages to his sacred dig- 
nity. 

Was ever man so changed as was this 
cold reserved priest Zeydon a Gamala. This 
man whose life, up to a certain period, was 
so blameless that in his self-righteous view of 
himself he had felt himself above and apart 
from human sins, sympathies and sorrows. 

But something had occurred. Ah, yes, some- 
thing had occurred to dissipate into nothing- 
ness his former estimate of himself. Through 
unspeakable agony of body and anguish of 
mind he had learned the meaning of the vision 
of the sanctuary, and, praise be to the pitying 
and merciful gods, the radiant one, the better 
part of himself, had conquered. Away into 

149 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

the darkness of the sinful past, from which 
he turned with a shudder of horror and re- 
morse, the monstrous being, his baser self, 
had fled ; and with humble heart and faltering 
steps he for the first time since his protracted 
illness turned his footsteps towards the temple. 
Slowly, laboriously he ascended the great flight 
of steps leading up to the main entrance. Upon 
reaching it he turned and gazed upon scenes 
he had thought he might not again behold. 
Yonder, in the distance, the late afternoon 
Diafon evoiha touched, as with fiery fingers, 
the lofty domes and towers of Leonita Tylu. 
Through the greenery of shrubs and trees he 
caught glimpses of the quiet, pretty lake upon 
which fronted the home of the Nyassas, where, 
during his long illness, he had found shelter 
and such boundless hospitality as only persons 
of ample means and extreme kindness of heart 
could have bestowed. 

And Frona was there. But Frona was dead 
to him ; yes dead to him. He had put her 
away out of his life ; she who never should 
have entered it. But the fault, the sin, was his 
own, and he had suffered for his sin. Oh! 
how he had suffered. But that he must forget : 
it should no longer torture him ; he could en- 
dure no more ; he would try to live that he 

150 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

might serve his people ; he would make their 
joys his joys, their sorrows his sorrows ; he 
would strive to make all possible reparation 
for his sin : and in time peace might return 
to his unhappy mind and heart. 

Then his somber gaze wandered over the 
glowing myriad blooms of the temple garden 
and over the fountain groups, from whose 
parted lips or extended hands silvery jets shot 
upward to fall in showers of jeweled drops. 
Along one pathway memory led his brooding 
thoughts ; and, as he recalled the strange vision 
that had come to him there he murmured: 
"Ever the memory of it clings to me, and 
ever my unquiet thoughts are asking, What if 
it may be true? Perchance Andumana, the 
All Wise, conceals from his children a truth 
that might unfit them for their present exist- 
ence. But I am naught but a dreamer, and 
the land of my glorious vision was a land of 
dreams, as unsubstantial as the fabric of cloud 
shadows, or the memories of dead faces of our 
vanished loved ones. And ere long I shall be 
but a memory to — whom? Alas, to no one 
but to those who will think of me as of one 
who never gave sign of love or sympathy for 
others." Then with humbled heart and falter- 
ing steps he turned and entered the quiet 

151 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

temple, where for a little while he glanced at 
the restored altar and crystal Diafon evoiha, 
irradiated by paling beams : Andumana's dis- 
appearing abode. At length he moved toward 
the inner sanctuary, drew aside the heavy drap- 
ery and once again stood before the glowing 
emblem of the dwelling place of the Creator of 
all things. Sinking to his knees, he drew the 
skirt of his robe across his face, and, for a 
time, naught but his faint breathing broke the 
stillness. Then in broken, tremulous tones he 
cried : "Oh Soima, Soima, thou ever constant 
one, who when Death would have borne me 
into the Silence, entreated that I might be 
spared to make reparation for my sinful con- 
duct, my inexcusable wickedness : I implore 
thee, Soima, to bear to Andumana my humble 
entreaty for the pardon of my shameful viola- 
tion of my vows of consecration. Plead for 
me, Soima, as thou wouldst plead for thyself 
wert thou a sinful man, fallen through weakly 
yielding to the mad passions of human nature ! 
Plead for me, that the Deific Ones may give 
me strength to grow pure in heart and so 
humble in mind that I may be as dust under 
the feet of those whom I have so grievously 
wronged. And thus may I, ere I shall go into 

152 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

the Silence, obtain peace of mind and ease of 
:my heavy, aching heart." 

Gentola emana : Ere Genessano resumes 
the recital of a Romance of Ento, which nears 
its conclusion, I desire to say that its chief 
purpose is to present to those who may read 
it some glimpses of the social and religious 
life of peoples known to earth's dwellers as 
Marsians, but who know themselves as *En- 
toans, which in their language signifies 
"chosen" or "set apart." 

We are aware that against the sombrous 
-coloring of the story, the tastes of some per- 
sons may revolt, but to those who seek for 
truth under whatsoever guise it may present 
itself, the end in view may incline them to a 
favorable consideration of the means we are 
constrained to use, in order that we may con- 
vey a correct, though very circumscribed pre- 
sentation of certain features pertaining to peo- 
ples so like those of our own planet as to offer 
no radical differences. 

The events of the story preceded, by about 
one Ento country, Genessano's departure into 
Ento's spirit realms, which occurred during 
our tenth century : yet you and we have had 
opportunity of observing that the Entoans, 

153 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

after the lapse of several centuries, have not 
as a whole, progressed very noticeably. 

It is a truth, that the progress of what is 
termed civilization when applied to the entire 
peoples of any planet is by nearly imperceptible 
degrees. The advancement all along the line 
of human endeavor is never simultaneous. Yet 
no individual or collective movement is ever 
lost : it remains an added force to the sum 
total of evolvement, whose activities are un- 
ceasing and unerring. 

No other inhabited planet of our solar sys- 
tem presents, in all directions, correspondences 
so noticeable as those which exist between 
Ento and Earth ; and were I a prophet, or the 
son of a prophet, I would predict, that ere 
the close of the present century communica- 
tion, on a scientific spirit basis, will be estab- 
lished between the two worlds known, 
astronomically, as Earth and Mars. 

Why do I make this statement? For the 
reason that we on the spirit side are aware 
that there are forces at work which are mak- 
ing the ways straight for inspired ones who 
are coming to perceive that, back of material 
science, there is a spirit science which is to 
material science what substance is to its 
shadow. And when this truth shall have be- 

154 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

come fully recognized, as ere long it will be, 
communication between the physically disem- 
bodied peoples of two closely related worlds 
and their mortal brethren will become so clear- 
ly established as to be of common occurrence. 

Carl de L'Ester, 
Guide and Interpreter. 

Autumn deepened into Winter, and Winter 
merged into Spring, through whose wooing 
all nature burst into buds, blooms and up- 
springing verdure, clothing the face of the land 
as with a silken carpet. Ere long Spring with 
outreaching hands and smiling, perfumed lips 
welcomed her royal successor, glowing Sum- 
mer, the Queen of all the Seasons, who 
brought in her gorgeous train a bounteous 
harvest of grains and delicious fruits for the 
sustenance of Andumana's children. 

Throughout the area of the storm swept 
localities busy hands had been, and were yet, 
engaged in the restoration of wrecked homes 
and other structures ; and now, though less 
than a year had elapsed, only suggestions of 
the havoc of the tempest remained to mark 
its devastating course. But during this lapse 
of time, in the affairs of those of whom I write, 
notable changes had occurred. Through ter- 

155 



DEC1MON HUYDAS 

ror and physical injury, Frona barely escaped 
from passing into the Silence. Finally, 
through most scientific treatment and careful, 
loving attention, she began to revive, and, 
now in early Summer she was strong enough 
to listen, for the first time, to a recital of all 
concerning the tempest and its consequences. 

For some time she had known that the high 
priest was an inmate of Koidassa, but only 
now did she learn of what had occasioned his 
presence there, and that, although he had been 
made acquainted with the disastrous effects 
of the tempest, and that she and Invalou also 
were at Koidassa, he had expressed but slight 
interest concerning affairs pertaining to him- 
self and no desire to see either of them. Thus 
although for many months they had been 
sheltered under the same roof, he and his 
charges had not confronted each other. 

During all this wearing, anxious time, 
Ouman Mitsa was not idle. Through repeat- 
ed visits to the Most High Priest Moukara he 
had made the true state of the Nyassa's affairs 
so clear to His Sacredness' mind that it only 
remained that Zeydon should have a hearing, 
"before appealing to the great God Tymonas, 
of the inner sanctuary, concerning Andu- 
mana's will towards Invalou and Frona. But 

156 



A ROMANCE OP MARS 

as yet this must be delayed until Zeydon 
should be sufficiently recovered to journey to 
Dao. 

By detailing the various events of the daily 
lives of the Nyassas and others concerned in 
this story, we might, were we so inclined, 
greatly lengthen the number of its pages. But 
heart aches are ever plentiful, and I doubt the 
taste and judgment of a narrator who seeks to 
multiply or color occurrences beyond the 
bounds of either propriety or probability, or 
to wound the sensibilities of those whose kind- 
ly emotions ever respond to all that appeals to- 
gentle natures. So, upon the events and scenes 
preceding the closing of my narrative, I shall 
touch but briefly. 

It is quite reasonable to suppose that only 
those, into whose charge Andumana has given 
his children, can understand the peculiar in- 
tensity of parental love, to which nature sets 
no bounds. In the case of the Nyassas, the 
tragic events of recent years so exalted and 
intensified their love for their children that 
they counted all else as of small value. As 
from day to day they observed the spontaneous 
expressions of affection between the two 
young, guileless creatures, Invalou and Frona, 
their minds and hearts were filled with anxiety 

157 



DECISION HUYDAS 

and dread of what the near future might hold 
in store for them. As yet, they had received 
no assurance that their children would be re- 
leased from either the custody of Zeydon or 
the claims of the *Unatuzza Fundoitsa. The 
utmost that Moukara would say was, "Wait. 
Zeydon must first be heard, then, as Andu- 
mana may decree, so must it be." 

To the youthful, buoyant minds of Inva- 
lou and Frona the past was fading into 
oblivion. They had each other ; they were 
within the shelter of their dear home and the 
arms of their adored and adoring parents. 
Surely, surely the sorrowful past would not 
repeat itself ; the days and nights of dread and 
terror would return no more : and they smiled 
into each other's eyes and murmured words 
of love and were content. The days fled on 
wings of fear, and under their breath the 
parents questioned each, "What shall we do, 
if the most high priest may not save them 
and us? What shall we do?" Though their 
lips made no reply in the sternly set faces of 
Luvon and Damma and the tearful eyes of 
Tillene and Avanna each read a reply that 
stilled their heart beats. "Yes, yes," they said, 

"'Ecclesiastical Court. 

15S 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

"there is but one way ; and if needs be we 
all will walk it together." Then to their 
happy children they gave smile for smile and 
from their anxious, heavy hearts they spoke 
to them words of cheer. The days fled away, 
and they waited, waited, waited. 

Towards mid-afternoon of a warm, wind- 
less day, in the family of the Nyassas quite a 
notable event occurred. Frona, who for so 
long had laid at the parting ways of life and 
death, had at last so far recovered as to ex- 
press a desire to sit under the shade of the 
Btidas trees, as so long, long ago she and Inva- 
lou had sat, listening to the wind in their 
great rustling branches, — the wind that to 
their childish fancies had seemed to whisper 
or sigh wonderful meanings of strange and 
mysterious things they never could compre- 
hend. And now her frail, trembling form, en- 
circled by Invaloii's strong, protecting arm, 
appears at the open doorway, and as through 
her weakness she timidly, hesitatingly shrinks 
from attempting to descend the flight of steps 
leading downward to the lawn, Invalou, 
against her shy protest, takes her into his 
arms and carefully bears her down to its 
, green velvety sward, where she stands with 

159 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

the air of one attempting to recall some half- 
forgotten memory. 

Suddenly her eyes seek the white stone 
landing by the lake shore and, with the glee 
of a child, she cries, "O Invalou, my Invalou, 
I wonder if the broken oar is yet hidden under 
the landing steps?" With the impetuosity of 
youth Invalou rushes of! towards the landing, 
disappearing for a moment among some shrub- 
bery. Presently, with less buoyant steps and 
holding aloft two pieces of a broken oar, he 
returns to the expectant group of Frona and- 
their parents, who now were seated under the 
Budas trees. "There, Frona dear," he says, 
"is a memento of bygone days which afforded 
Zeydon an excuse to force upon you and me 
years of unspeakable sorrow and what is more 
to be deplored, years of grief and despair upon 
these, our dearly beloved parents. Say now, 
heart of my heart, how shall we dispose of 
this reminder of the saddest event of all our 
lives ?" 

Taking from Invalou's hands the broken 
oar, she for a while regarded it in silence. 
Slowly a vivid blush overspread her fair young 
face and, with charming shyness, she smiled 
into Invalou's eyes, asking, "Dost thou recall 
what occasioned the breaking of the oar?"' 

160 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Now the hot blood surged into Invalou's dark 
face, as with mirthful confusion he replied, 
"Yes, I do indeed recall the occasion of its 
breaking." 

Turning to his and Frona's parents, he ex- 
plained that on the never to be forgotten after- 
noon of his and Frona's boat ride on the lake 
they suddenly realized that Diafon evoiha was 
touching the horizon and that they were quite 
a distance from the landing; that Frona, more 
thoughtful than he, besought him to hasten, 
lest they might be late for the temple service ; 
that, being in a mischievous mood, he sug- 
gested that as a reward for his exertion she 
should give him a kiss, which she was not in- 
clined to bestow ; that with assumed indiffer- 
ence as to when they might reach the landing, 
he rowed with such exasperating tardiness that 
Frona petulantly declared her intention to 
hereafter boat by herself; that in boyish re- 
sentment,, he suddenly began to row with such 
impetuosity that one of the oars snapped in 
twain and — "Well," he said, "for the conse- 
quences of my thoughtless folly, which has so 
nearly wrecked all our lives, I cannot hope to 
ever atone." 

Exclamations of loving condolence burst 
from all lips, for all well knew that he had 

. 161 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

meant no wrong, and that his boyish prank 
had been made to serve another's purpose. 

Still Frona held in her hands the broken 
oar, and as Invalou concluded his recital of an 
occurrence, which until now was but partly 
known to any but himself and her, with paling 
color and in a voice tremulous with emotion 
she said, "Heart of my heart, if it may please 
the just and merciful gods to incline the Most 
High Priest Moukara's mind to release us 
from the High Priest Zeydon's custody our 
two lives, like the two halves of this broken 
oar, may become united. If such a happy 
conclusion of the sorrow which has so dark- 
ened the lives of these beloved ones and our 
own may arrive, we will with a jewelled band 
unite these fragments and over our home altar 
the oar shall be placed as a reminder that hasty 
speech and inconsiderate actions ever lead to 
occasions for repentance." 

With smiles, tears and caresses her auditors 
gave unanimous expressions of their approval 
of her decision. 

Through an open window Zeydon, who still 
was an inmate of the home of the Nyassas, 
looked with startled gaze upon the group 
under the Budas trees. Not since the memor- 
able interview between Frona, Ouman Mitsa 

162 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

and himself had he beheld the face of the in- 
nocent cause of his lamentable departure from 
the path of rectitude and honor. Now as his 
sunken, somber eyes rested upon her pallid 
face and emaciated form, such a wave of self- 
accusation swept over him that he covered his 
haggard face with his hands, moaning, "Oh 
Andumana, canst thou forgive thy wretched 
and repentant son? In deepest humility I im- 
plore thee for strength that I may make atone- 
ment to these wronged ones, whose generous 
kindness fills my heart with such bitter self- 
accusation that I sink under the burthen of my 
shame and guilt." 

For a time hot tears of regret and remorse 
streamed from his eyes, and when at last he 
raised his head the Nyassas were returning to 
the house. Luvon and Tillene, Damma and 
Avanna watched with anxious interest Inva- 
lou's attempt to sustain Frona's feeble, halting 
steps ; and as Zeydon eagerly scanned her wan, 
but supremely beautiful face, his ears caught 
the words, "Nay, my Invalou, thy solicitude 
exaggerates the gravity of my injury. I may 
yet grow well and strong: but should I not, 
thou wilt love me still." In Invalou's tender, 
earnest eyes she found assurance of lifelong 
constancy. 

1G3 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

As one stiffening in death, so stiffened Zey- 
don's form, as he arose to his full height and 
staggered away from the window. For a brief 
time his radiant, his better self battled with the 
dark personality, and in his heart raged all the 
base emotions of jealousy, hatred and revenge, 
"This," he muttered through set lips, "was 
why Frona has ever repulsed my slightest at- 
tention. This was why she shrank from me 
as from some pestilent thing. Fool, fool that 
I have been to squander upon a shadow the 
substantial peace and contentment of a clean 
conscience, the exalted honor of unstained 
priestly vows !" 

With an understanding of the situation came 
despair so overwhelming as to approach mad- 
ness. Back and forth, back and forth the 
frenzied man swiftly paced the length of his 
spacious apartments, his illness, his weakness 
forgotten while struggling with the fierce 
tempest of human passions, which threatened 
to wreck both his reason and existence. 

Those unfortunates who have endured the 
torments of unrequited love may, to a degree, 
comprehend the state of Zeydon's mind, but 
only to a degree ; for, aside from other tortur- 
ing emotions, remorse, like a famished animal, 

164 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

gnawed at his heart and lapped his very life 
blood. 

Surely the agony of that hour must have 
appealed to the pity of the merciful gods, for 
as he walked into his seething brain came a 
sense of dullness, of apathy. At last outraged 
nature could endure no more and in utter ex- 
haustion, he staggered to his couch and fell 
upon it in a deathlike swoon, where later his 
faithful attendant Vanetta, found him and, 
with cries of alarm, quickly brought succor to 
the senseless man. Gradually, as restoratives 
brought him back to a state of consciousness, 
memory revived, and with it came a sense of 
helplessnese and bewilderment. Until far into 
the night his thoughts were as Autumn leaves 
drifting before the wind. Nothing, save a 
nameless burthen which was crushing his 
heart, seemed real. ''What is it? What is 
it?" he wearily asked himself. Suddenly he 
felt himself emerging from this vague mental 
condition into one of distinct consciousness and 
clear realization concerning his duty to him- 
self and to others. In deepest humiliation he 
also realized that he could no longer lean upon 
his own strength, which was as a broken staff 
whose fragments pierced his weary hands. 

But what should he do? To what source 

165 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

should he turn for strength to sustain his 
lamentable weakness? To Soima, the God of 
the Temple Sanctuary, he dared not appeal, 
for Soima had shown him the danger which 
threatened him and the way of escape. But 
he had trusted to his own strength, he had 
stubbornly, blindly gone his own way, and now 
again he had fallen under the influence of his 
baser self, whom he loathed and shrank from, 
but from whom he found he could not, un- 
aided, free himself. 

In the adjoining room a night light dimly 
burned and at intervals an attendant, with 
noiseless footsteps, stole to his side to ad- 
minister to his needs. The night wore on, and 
slowly into Zeydon's mind grew a resolve that 
he would go to the Most High Priest Mou- 
kara, and to him he would reveal all his sin- 
ning, all his suffering, all his futile struggling 
against that which he could no longer com- 
bat. As to the result he scarcely gave a 
thought: for what could matter any more? 
Nothing. 

Wearied and worn beyond expression, he 
at last fell into a slumber, so profound that the 
gray of earliest dawn was heralding the rising 
of Andumana's glorious abode ere he stirred 
uneasily and softly called "Vanetta, Vanetta 

166 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

thou faithful one. Thou mayst now retire for 
needed rest. But at mid-forenoon we will take 
passage for Dao." 

Fearing that the mind of the high priest 
was again wandering, Vanetta was quickly by 
his side, but Zeydon's quiet manner and faintly 
smiling lips reassured him, and after receiving 
further instruction as to the contemplated 
journey he summoned another attendant and 
retired. 



167 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Now we will recur to the period immediate- 
ly succeeding the occurrence of the tempest. 
During all the days and nights of Zeydon's 
dangerous illness Ouman Mitsa was almost 
constantly by his side. Through listening to 
his fevered ravings he came into a clear 
understanding of the motives which had im- 
pelled the unfortunate priest to a course of 
conduct quite at variance with his calling, — 
and indeed at variance with his naturally 
honorable and elevated ideas of right. He 
learned how the rigid asceticism of the priest 
had so repressed his naturally fervid nature 
that when Frona's exceeding beauty and 
wondrously charming personality awakened in 
him the emotion of love, his self-deception led 
him to attribute his interest in her to a higher 
motive than a selfish desire to have her ever 
near him. He learned that through all the 
years of Zeydon's infatuation his passion for 
his victim was of such an exalted nature that 
her name on his lips was as though it were 
the name of a goddess. In Ouman Mitsa's 
mind this strange passage in the life of the 
austere priest excited a sense of compassion, 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

for truly he was only a little less a victim of 
the force of irresistiible circumstances than 
were Invalou and Frona. Though he did not 
at any time hold Zeydon wholly blameless he 
came to understand that, in an endeavor to 
compass certain ends, one may unconsciously 
grow so mentally and morally blind as to be 
irresponsible. 

Throughout his protracted delirium Zeydon 
did not recognize even those most familiar to 
him ; thus Ouman Mitsa, who so carefully 
watched the stricken man upon whose recovery 
depended gravest issues, came and went un- 
noticed by his staring, unseeing eyes. He and 
the Nyassas well knew, that should Zeydon 
pass into the Silence the future of Invalou 
and Frona would depend upon the decision of 
an ecclesiastical court, over which the Most 
High Priest Moukara presided. But should 
Zeydon recover and relent in his purpose to- 
wards them, and Ouman Mitsa felt confident 
that he would relent, then their release through 
the potent influence of the Most High Priest 
might be accomplished. Daily, during this 
trying period, he was in communication with 
Moukara, whose interest in the peculiar situa- 
tion at Koidassa constantly increased, but as 
yet no steps could be taken to change it. 

169 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

As all things, both good and evil, in time 
come to a conclusion, so at last came a time 
which brought the blessed assurance that 
Frona would continue to live. A little later 
Zeydon, who for a day and night had lain 
almost pulseless and breathless, opened his 
eyes to see bending over him Ento's most 
famous physician, and the man of all men 
whom he most feared and disliked, holding a 
cordial, which he tenderly and gently pressed 
the nearly lifeless Zeydon to drink. Too feeble 
in mind and body to resist or more than dimly 
to recognize him whom he regarded as his 
most hostile enemy, he drank the proffered 
cordial and immediately passed into a long, 
restful slumber. When he awakened it was 
to find Frona's still lovely mother by the side 
of his couch. 

With gentlest, kindliest speech she ex- 
pressed her pleasure that he had not passed 
into the Silence and her hope that ere long he 
might recover health and strength. Then she 
arranged his pillows, readjusted his couch cov- 
ering, bathed his wan face, smoothed his dis- 
ordered hair and, with the cheering, comfort- 
ing manner of a mother towards a sick child, 
quieted his agitated mind and induced him to 
partake of some nourishment. After this he 

170 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

again slept, and when, between midnight and 
dawn, he aroused to consciousness, he heard 
an unfamiliar voice say, "Yes, he will, thanks 
to your unremitting attention more than to 
my skill, recover." Then another and well 
remembered voice in most fervent tones mur- 
mured, "The merciful gods be praised." 
Through his slightly unclosed eyelids he saw 
in the adjoining room Oilman Mitsa and a 
stately man of middle age, clothed in the garb 
of a physician. 

As to the high priest's reflections at this 
period and throughout his tedious convales- 
cence we need not be uncertain, for in the 
record to which I have alluded he wrote much 
concerning this feature of his lamentable ex- 
perience. His mind always seems to have been 
filled with wonder and gratitude over the 
boundless care and attention he received at 
the hands of Oilman Mitsa and the Nyassas. 
In deepest abasement he wrote, "Oh miserable 
man that I am. Through shame and remorse 
I almost perish. For my cruelty, I have from 
these wronged ones, received immeasurable 
kindness. But for their incessant care and 
matchless generosity I would now be in the 
Silence. How shall I undo my iniquitous con- 
duct for which I have no righteous excuse to 

171 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

offer? O ye Deific Ones, who behold the 
follies and offenses of sinful men, aid me, I 
implore you that I may to the utmost of my 
ability, make amends for the years of grievous 
sorrow "I have through wilful wickedness oc- 
casioned them.'' 

Much more of the same import is contained 
in Zeydon's confessions, which indeed afford 
a complete analysis of his character and emo- 
tions ; and, in so far as I am informed, no one 
ever has so entirely laid bare every thought 
and impulse of mind and heart as did this re- 
pentant priest, who, in concluding his memoir, 
wrote, "In deeper anguish of mind and heart 
than I can express, I write these lines hoping 
that they may serve as a warning to some 
weak man, who, after I shall have gone into 
the Silence, may, as I did unwarily yield to 
temptation." 

I fear that my digressions may somewhat 
confuse the minds of those who may read this 
story: yet I must test your forbearance 
further while, in my uncertain way, I go to- 
wards its conclusion. 

Ouman Mitsa, who by the mid-forenoon air 
transport journeyed to Dao, was greatly sur- 
prised and somewhat disconcerted to observe 
that Zeydon and his attendant Vanetta also 

172 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

were passengers. With gentle courtesy he ap- 
proached the high priest inquiring as to his 
health and expressing a hope that his Sacred- 
ness might speedily recover his accustomed 
vigor. Zeydon with equal kindliness of man- 
ner made suitable replies, but despite his evi- 
dent attempt to appear composed his demeanor 
bespoke a mind ill at ease. 

Ouman Mitsa, who was a man of extreme 
delicacy of mind and manner, having begged 
the high priest to command his service should 
he require it, retired to the outer promenade, 
where he occupied himself in pacing back and 
forth, his mind full of perplexity as to why 
Zeydon should so suddenly and secretly jour- 
ney to Dao. 

At near high noon the transport alighted at 
the station, and Ouman Mitsa hastened to the 
Most Sacred Temple Zim, hoping to find op- 
portunity for speech with the most high priest 
ere he should receive Zeydon, who he surmised 
had come to Dao for an interview with him. 
At the conclusion of the high noon service he 
approached the most high priest and earnestly 
besought him to grant him an immediate inter- 
view, which his Sacredness graciously prom- 
ised, naming for the purpose the earliest pos- 
sible hour. 

173 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

At mid-afternoon he presented himself at 
the residence of the most high priest and was 
at once admitted to a private audience with his 
Sacredness, from whom he received a most 
friendly and affectionate welcome. Their 
greetings being concluded with an encourag- 
ing smile Moukara inquired, "To what friend- 
ly wind am I indebted for having blown my 
dear kinsman in my direction? Is it that you 
would discuss some weighty matter concern- 
ing the government or perchance some inter- 
est of our holy religion? Or is it that you 
would speak of your unhappy relatives the 
Nyassas that I am favored with your ever wel- 
come presence?" 

No. further urging was necessary to induce 
Ouman Mitsa to lay before the most high 
priest the sum of the information he had ac- 
quired concerning the high priest and the 
Nyassas. As he related the substance of Zey- 
don's delirious ravings through which he had 
learned the story of his temptation and his 
wrongdoing, which had resulted in years of 
utter misery to the Nyassas, and finally in 
Invalou's and Frona's narrow escape from 
death, he became so indignantly eloquent that 
Moukara's usually tranquil manner grew quite 
disturbed. But as the relation of events pro- 

174 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

ceeded, gradually leading to an explanation of 
Zeydon's reprehensible conduct and his present 
pitiable state Moiikara threw up his hands ex- 
claiming: "My dear Oilman, you so bewilder 
me that I find it difficult to determine as to 
who is the more to be commiserated — Zeydon, 
or the Nyassas. Truly, thy heart is so gener- 
ous that I fear it sets thy judgment at fault." 
And he smiled indulgently. 

For a moment Ouman Mitsa showed some 
confusion, then with an apologetic air he said, 
"I beg that Your Sacredness will bear with 
me for I confess that of late my experiences 
have so put out of joint all my ideas of right 
and wrong that scarcely can I determine which 
is the more to be pitied — Zeydon or the 
.Nyassas." 

At this moment the silvery trill of a tiny 
~bell notified the most high priest that some one 
desired admission. In response to his signalled 
reply, an attendant entered, bearing to His 
Sacredness a folded paper which, with a re- 
pressed exclamation he read. Then, turning 
to Ouman Mitsa, he said : "You will retire to 
the adjoining apartment. One to whom I shall 
accord immediate audience awaits permission 
to enter." With a peculiar smile lighting up 
his fine face, in a low tone he said, "May the 

175 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

Deific Ones inspire me with wisdom, for Zey- 
don approaches. You will await my sum- 
mons." And as Ouman Mitsa hastily disap- 
peared the High Priest Zeydon entered. 

Yes, it was Zeydon, but Zeydon so changed 
in appearance and bearing that for a moment 
Moukara gazed upon him in mute surprise. 
As with bowed head and halting steps the 
trembling priest drew near and knelt at Mou- 
kara's feet, he presented so piteous a spectacle 
that touched with profound compassion the 
most high priest stooped to raise him from 
his humble position. But with gentle resist- 
ance Zeydon put away his hands, crying in 
broken, tremulous tones : "I am unworthy to 
even kneel at thy feet. I am too impure for 
thy clean hands to touch me. Against Andu- 
mana and the Deific Ones I have sinned I fear 
past forgiveness. I am a most wretched and 
guilty man, and am no longer entitled to 
serve in the temple of Andumana, the Most 
High, Sinless One, Most Sacred One. I have 
not come to thee hoping for or desiring pity or 
favor for myself : for I have so sinned against 
my vows of consecration that I dare not hope 
for pity or forgiveness from either gods or 
men. I have come to thy Most Sacred Sacred- 
ness to lay bare before thee my breaking heart 

176 




A Flower of Ento, Name Unknown. 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

and, if possible, to undo a most grievous 
wrong which I have committed. Have I thy 
permission for further speech?" 

While Zeydon spoke into the Most High 
Priest's face a strange expression had grown, 
an expression as fixed as that of a statue, as 
exalted as that of a god. 

In my attempt to describe Zeydon's inter- 
view with the Most High Priest, I am aware 
that I am encroaching upon forbidden ground, 
and also, I confess, I am drawing slightly upon 
natural inferences. At the same time, after 
having read the record of Zeydon's expiation,, 
including his interview with the Most High. 
Priest Moukara, I feel that I might find 
justification for saying much more than I shall 
trust myself to express. 

With bowed head the suppliant high priest- 
awaited permission for further speech, but as-. 
the Most High Priest neither moved or ut- 
tered a word, Zeydon slowly raised his head 
and in amazement gazed upon a face that was,, 
indeed, as the face of a god. 

With head thrown slightly backward and 
his large, dark, wide-open eyes gazing up- 
ward with an intensity that seemed as though 
they might pierce the very walls of Astranola 
Moukara, in a listening attitude, for a time re- 

177 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

mained motionless. Suddenly a rush of color 
suffused his dark face, and with a slight start 
he aroused from his intense reverie. Turning 
toward Zeydon, in gentlest tones he said : 

"Speak, thou bruised and broken child of 
the One who created thee, as He creates all 
His children — imperfect — that through trials 
and much suffering they may grow strong in 
all the virtues, and thus may learn to love one 
another." 

Then Zeydon, in utter self-abasement, told 
to Moukara the story of his life. How with 
the high enthusiasm of youth he had served his 
novitiate. How through a misconception of 
the finer meanings of our holy religion he had 
grown arrogant, unsympathetic and intoler- 
ant : regarding the priesthood as the embodi- 
ment, not only of sacred authority, but as pos- 
sessing the absolute right to control the affairs 
of those under their charge. How through his 
life of rigid adherence to the beliefs and rites 
of what he had conceived as the true expres- 
sion of our holy religion, he had grown so self- 
righteous that he had thought himself beyond 
the touch of human emotions and frailties. 
That, while regarding himself as invulnerable 
to the weaknesses of many men suddenly and, 
strange to say, unconsciously, he had fallen 

178 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

from the calm of an emotionless existence to 
the depths of an unreasoning passion for a 
young girl, whose innocence, wondrous beauty 
and singular charm of manner led all hearts 
captive. 

Without the slightest attempt to palliate his 
wrongdoing, he laid bare to the most high 
priest an account of his struggles against the 
irresistible passion, which had held him in such 
complete subjection, that he possessed no 
strength of will to even attempt to release 
himself from a course of conduct that he fully 
realized was utterly ruinous. Of his remorse 
and wretchedness of mind he spoke with 
shrinking horror, and, at the conclusion of his 
tragic recital, which included his injury and 
long illness, and Frona's injury and narrow 
escape from death, in tones of indescribable 
anguish, he brokenly said ■ 

"Most Sacred Sacredness, I have laid bare 
before you my mind and heart. I have with- 
held nothing concerning my shameful disre- 
gard of the duties of our holy religion, or of 
my treachery toward those entrusted to my 
care. I deserve no mercy. I desire none. I 
have sinned : let my expiation be swift and in 
accordance with my deserts." And, with his 

179 



DECISION HUYDAS 

face buried in his hands, he awaited his sen- 
tence. 

Bending over the crouching, trembling man 
Moukara drew his hands away from his tear- 
stained, haggard face, saying softly, tenderly: 

"Arise my brother. Thou hast indeed deep- 
ly sinned and thou hast also deeply suffered. 
Through thy sinning and thy suffering thou 
hast learned a lesson, which will fit thee for 
an understanding of the sins and sorrows of 
others. The fittest expiation thou canst make 
to Andumana and the Deific Ones, and to 
those whom thou hast so wronged, is to re- 
turn to and serve faithfully those who have so 
long been under thy charge. As thou art one 
of Andumana's children, so are they children 
of the same creative power. Thus, are they 
thy brothers and thy sisters, who have a i ight 
to claim protection from thee. 

"The wrongs thou hast committed against 
the Nyassas thou canst not undo, but thou 
canst undo the wrongs that have found lodg- 
ment in thy own mind and heart, and in right- 
ing the wrongs of thy own nature thou wilt 
find means of atonement for the sufferings 
thou hast occasioned others. 

"Thou sayst that thy passion for the Daugh- 
ter of the Nyassas hath burned thy heart to 

180 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

ashes. Let no mischance enkindle them. Thou 
art not the first priest, and alas, thou art not 
the last who, through weakness rather than 
through deliberate willfulness hath suffered, 
will suffer and cause others to suffer for un- 
righteous conduct. 

"As Andumana hath signified that He de- 
sires in His Temples no unwilling servitors, 
let the children of the Nyassas be, as thou de- 
sirest, released from their novitiate. And, as 
through the disastrous consequences of the 
tempest they already are with their parents, 
let them remain with them. 

"Nay, my brother, say no more. Thou owest 
me no thanks. As thou knowest it is not I who 
judge thee, but those who not only read the 
words of thy lips, but the thoughts back of thy 
words. And if Andumana and His Messeng- 
ers, the Deific Ones can, because thou art pos- 
sessed of human and not of godlike attributes, 
forgive thee, it would illy become me who am 
but thy elder brother to deal with thee harsh- 
ly. Ere thou shalt go into the Silence thou 
mayst find ample occasions for making to the 
Deific Ones and to those in thy charge atone- 
ment for thy offenses. Let thy love for all 
living things equal thy former indifference; 
for remember, that He Who hath created thee 

181 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

hath also out of himself created all that is : 
and thus thy love is as fully due the created as 
the Creator. Be to thy people the embodiment 
of all that is loving, just, kind, merciful and 
true. Open thy mind and heart to thy sanctu- 
ary god Soima, whom I know of as one able 
and willing to guide thee to righteous ends. 
Guard thy thoughts, acts and words that 
henceforth thy life may be as blameless in 
thine own eyes as thou wouldst have it appear 
to gods and men. Thus with thy mind and 
heart purified as by fire, thou shalt ere going 
into the Silence arrive at peace with the Deific 
Ones and with thyself." 

He ceased, and Zeydon endeavored to 
speak, but his agitation so overwhelmed him 
that he could only brokenly murmur : "May 
the Deific Ones do to thee as thou hast done 
to me, and in proportion as I may deserve 
Their mercy and thy beneficence even so may 
my recompense be." - 

Then, with a profound obeisance he 
turned away and left the most high priest's 
presence. Until he disappeared Moukara's 
pitying eyes followed his prematurely aged 
and enfeebled form, and a troubled and per- 
plexed expression, like a cloud shadow, swept 
over his usually serene face. In a low, fervent 

182 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

tone he murmured : "Andumana, Creator and 
preserver of Thy children, I would that I 
might ere I shall go into the oblivion of Death 
solve the meaning of existence which over- 
whelms me with its mystery. Through the 
Deific Ones, who are Thy servitors, Thou 
dost from time to time reveal to Thy chosen 
children expressions of Thy will ; and I, the 
humblest of these, adore Thee, that Thou hast 
created me with sufficient discernment to catch 
even faintest meanings of Thy mind, which is 
too exalted for any one less wise than Thyself 
to comprehend. I do not question Thy wis- 
dom, Thy will or any attribute of Thy infinity 
but, O Thou Mightiest One, as my limited 
thought strives to reach out towards the height 
of Thy majesty and immeasurable glory, in 
my weakness and inability to transcend the 
limitations it hath pleased Thee to impose upon 
me as upon all created things, I cry unto Thee, 
Who knowest my secret thoughts, for forgive- 
ness, if in my presumption and ignorance I 
abuse the privilege of my office. Am I, O 
Thou sinless One, impure in mind if for 
yonder crushed and broken child of Thine my 
heart is full of pity and tenderest sympathy? 
Thou knowest his sin; thou knowest the 
anguish of his mind and heart and the agony 

183 



UJECIMON HUYDAS 

of his repentance, and surely Thy pitiful and 
divine compassion is immeasurably greater 
than mine, who am but the echo of Thy 
thought." 

At this moment slanting beams of Andu- 
mana's glorious abode penetrated the silken 
window drapery, bathing the great apartment 
and the most high priest in a soft golden radi- 
ance. In a state of intense exaltation with 
shining eyes and face aglow, he prayed: "I 
am Thine, out of Thyself. Thou didst speak 
me into existence and I know that it is for me, 
as far as I may, to do Thy will and to ques- 
tion not that which I am not wise enough to 
comprehend. Rau, Rati, Rau." 

In an attitude of deepest reverence, for a 
brief time, Moukara stood with bowed head 
and closed eyes. Then, seating himself — he 
summoned Oilman Mitsa, who with a most 
anxious expression of countenance entered his 
presence. With a reassuring smile the most 
high priest exclaimed : 

"It is for thee and me to praise Andumana 
and the Deific Ones who, through the fury of 
the tempest, have shown their invincible 
might; who, through the righteousness of 
their purposes, have made known their 
abhorrence of evil doing; who, through their 

184 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

love and pitiful tenderness for the weakness of 
the erring, have bestowed strength and for- 
giveness ; who, through their divine sym- 
pathy for the unmerited suffering of the in- 
nocent and wronged, are heralding days of 
peace and happiness whose completeness will 
fill to repletion their remaining years." 

Of Zeydon's confession and of his strong 
desire to make reparation for his transgres- 
sions against both divine and civil laws he 
fully informed Ouman Mitsa. Of his own 
desire that he and the Nyassas should, in their 
mutual happiness strive to forgive and, as far 
as possible, forget Zeydon's offense, he spoke 
with strong feeling and impressive earnest- 
ness. 

''Remember," he said, "that they who will 
not forgive the transgressions of another have 
no right to ask of Andumana and the Deific 
Ones forgiveness of their own transgressions, 
and that one is ever more blessed in forgiving 
than in being forgiven. Ouman, my dearest 
kinsman, Andumana created thee with a na- 
ture so strong, so steadfast, that in thy prog- 
ress from childhood to manhood and onward 
to the present time, thy feet have not tripped 
over the rough places upon which so many 
weak, unfortunates have fallen. According 

185 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

with the measure of thy strength let the meas- 
ure of thy love, mercy and tender forbear- 
ance be. 

"Tymonas, the great god of the inner sanc- 
tuary of this Most Sacred Temple Zim hath 
taught me many things, the chiefest of which 
is that in Love is included all the attributes of 
Andumana, the Infinite One." 

"And now I charge thee Ouman, that in 
the innermost of thy mind and heart thou 
shalt secretly and sacredly cherish that which 
I am about to say to thee. Thou knowest 
Ouman, how the sorrowful children of our 
beloved Ento are ever reaching out after their 
dear dead. Ouman, thou knowest, for ever 
since thy adored wife Zoulene went from thee 
thy entire days have been days of sadness. 
Thy tears, dear Ouman, attest that still thy 
grief cuts into thy heart as poignantly as 
though thy sorrowful bereavement had come 
to thee but yesterday. 

"Of thy past life I know much; of mine 
thou knowest but little. That thou mayst in- 
telligently read one page of its earliest history, 
I will relate to thee what none but Andumana 
and the gods are cognizant of. Of our ances- 
try and of the vast wealth with which our 
parents endowed thee and me thou knowest ; 

186 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

but thou dost not know that in my mature 
manhood I loved with all the ardor of an im- 
passioned nature a maiden as fair and sweet 
as the opening buds of the beauteous Roina. 
Isaleta Rouenedas was — What ! Thou re- 
memberest her? Thou wert but a mere lad, 
scarcely vodu elipsaa* of age, yet thou remem- 
berest her ? Ah yes ! she was very, very beauti- 
ful in both mind and person. Then thou 
mayst also remember that my stern and un- 
yielding predecessor, the Most High Priest 
Talsa Amuna chose her as a sacrifice to Lafon 
Gilnas, the dread God of Darkness who rules 
ever the Realm of fYento. Should I attempt 
to recount to thee the terror, horror and 
agony of mind of my poor Isaleta, and of all 
who loved her, when it was made known that 
she to appease the Evil God Lafon Gilnas, 
must go through the fire into the Silence it 
would but add to thy and my already heavy 
burthen of unceasing regret and sorrow. So 
I shall only say that with Isaleta's ashes I 
urned the ashes of my consumed hopes and 
aspirations concerning the interests of life, and 
gave myself and my possessions to such service 

*Five year old. 

f Abode of rebellious gods and goddesses. 

187 



X>ECIMOX HUYDAS 

as the Deific Ones might decree. In time I 
succeeded the most high priest, Talsa Amuna, 
and praise be to Andumana ! through the great 
God Tfmonas it was given to me to proclaim 
to the children of Ento their deliverance from 
an observance of the dread sacrificial rite, 
which Andumana perceived was a heavier ob- 
ligation than His children could longer endure. 
Alas ! it came too late to save my Isaleta and 
my only consolation is to bathe with my tears 
the urn which holds her sacred ashes, and as 
far as I may, to lighten the burthens of those 
whose sorrows, like my own, rob life of its 
chiefest blessing — peace of mind. 

"In laying bare to thee my mind and heart 
I have in mind a purpose, which I fear I shall 
not be able to make clear even to thy compre- 
hension. As thou knowest the high priests 
of our holy religion are chosen because of a 
certain fitness for the office. It, for a sufficient 
reason, hath not pleased Andumana that all of 
His children shall be able to hold converse 
with the Deific Ones, or with the gods and 
.goddesses who are His Messengers and who 
also are the servitors of His purposes ; hence 
only those whom He has created in accordance 
with His design are fitted and selected to fill 

188 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

the sacred office of most high priest, and to 
serve as high priests in various temples. 

"Early in my novitiate it became apparent 
that I was specially endowed with the ability 
to both see and converse with the Deific Ones 
and with other dwellers in Astranola, and for 
that and other cogent reasons, at the death of 
Talsa Amuna I was chosen to succeed him as 
most high priest of this Most Sacred Temple 
Zim from whence when Death shall seize me I 
shall go — I shall go — Ah, what shall I say to 
thee Ouman? Perchance my constant brood- 
ing over the strange mystery of life and death 
inclines me to fanciful thoughts : yet ever I ac- 
cept only that which appeals to such reason 
as I possess ; and when I tell thee Ouman, that 
lately the great god Tfmonas of the inner 
sanctuary hath revealed to me something so 
marvelous that I scarcely dare think of it, thou 
wilt not I pray think that my mind is astray. 

"What he hath spoken to me is more an 
intimation, than a clear revelation that in some 
coming time, a truth so overwhelming will be 
revealed to the children of Ento that sorrow 
and despair over the loss of their dear ones 
will no longer darken their lives. It is, that 
all who have been thought of as forever lost 

189 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

will be found again, and that the dead shall 
live and the living shall not die ! 

"What meaning these strange sayings may 
hold I know not, for I have been forbidden to 
question the marvel of it and to be content 
with that which hath been revealed to me. 

"Ouman, I fear that thy thoughts are say- 
ing to thee that I am no longer of sane mind. 
Then what wilt thou think when I tell thee that 
at times I seem to behold my lost Isaleta, as 
youthful as when her young life was a part of 
my young life? Radiant, smiling, she reaches 
out her dear hands to me calling, 'Come ! 
Come !' and I for very joy swoon into uncon- 
sciousness from which when I arouse, I seem 
to have dreamed that I have beheld my lost 
love ! Ouman, my kinsman, my friend this to 
thee is as the wild imagining of a diseased 
fancy : and I cannot declare that it is not. But 
to me it is so real at the time that it is as 
though I gaze upon the living, breathing, lov- 
ing Isaleta whose dear memory is my most 
sacred, my most valued possession." 

While Moukara impetuously gave utterance 
to this strange and startling story, into Ouman 
Mitsa's dark eyes and handsome face grew an 
expression of wonder, then of such radiant joy 
that suddenly his countenance assumed an ap- 

190 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

pearance of youth and of ecstasy, which so 
transfigured him that years seemed to have 
dropped away from him like a worn garment. 
Then, with eager haste, he in turn related his 
own marvelous experience of the night of his 
return to Amatu. "If thou art mad," he cried, 
"then so am I. And if madness may so il- 
lumine life's dreary, darkened pathway that 
through its mazes one may catch even faintest 
glimpses of the unreal images of our dear 
dead, then I pray the pitiful gods that we may 
remain dreamers of unrealities. And if that 
which thou hast received from the great God 
Tymonas may hold aught of significance, O 
Sacredness, what meaning may not it hold for 
thee and me? At thought of what it may 
mean I grow so faint that my heart is well- 
nigh stilled." 

Oblivious of passing time these two vision- 
ary but exalted and sincerely pious personages 
exchanged mutual confidences, through which 
they revealed to each other their hope, if not 
actual belief, that in some coming time Andu- 
mana, who executes that which He wills 
would to the priceless blessing of life add 
greater length of days, — days so prolonged as 
to become continuous. In records written by 
both the most high priest and Ouman Mitsa 

191 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

there are even strange hints of a continuous 
existence after death of the body of that which 
these two wise men assumed to be the intelli- 
gent, indestructible life principle. Of course 
we, who cannot hold converse with the Deific 
Ones, cannot be expected to realize the pos- 
sibility, much less the probability, of such a 
marvelous conception ; but to me and to those 
interested in curious states of mind, these rec- 
ords possess a peculiar fascination; and I con- 
fess, that could I conceive of life without the 
accompaniment of physical form, I too might 
fall to dreaming baseless dreams, and thus be- 
come no wiser than others, who, while reach- 
ing after unrealities oft times lose conscious- 
ness of present good. 

Ere the two enthusiasts realized that other 
duties demanded attention the last faint after- 
glow of Andumana's shining abode was pal- 
ing from the sky and twilight was hovering 
over Dao. From Zim's wondrous temple bells 
musical notes, — soft, sweet, penetrating, — 
bade Info oovistu* to departing day; and sud- 
denly myriad lights from towers, domes and 
private residences turned darkness into radi- 
ant light. Oilman Mitsa, with apologies for 

*Until thou returnest. 

192 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

his protracted interview hastily made ready to 
depart, but Moukara with gentle insistence de- 
tained him, saying : "Ever, dear Oilman, thou 
hast been more in my mind than I have found 
time or occasion to express. But now that 
mutual interests and sympathy draw us so 
near each other, it will remain with thee to 
afford me the happiness of frequently seeing 
thy face and of having speech with thee. Go 
now, and bear with thee my blessing for thy- 
self and thy dear friends, the Nyassas. Say 
to the youth and maiden that the Deific Ones, 
who have them in their keeping desire that 
they shall not in their joy forget the sorrow- 
ful one, whose darkened life they may in a 
measure, brighten ; and that when their two 
lives shall have become wholly united, I shall 
regard it as a privilege and pleasure if I may 
bestow my blessing upon their union. And I 
pray that the loving ones of Astranola may so 
brighten and bless their coming years that 
they may, with softened memories, recall the 
good, and not the evil, which hath so dark- 
ened the later days of their youth." 



193 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

CHAPTER XV. 

To the countless years of Ento's existence 
another year added itself, and for its children 
it was a year full to repletion with joy and 
sorrow, which ever are close comrades. In the 
wake of the tempest death had gathered a 
plenteous harvest, leaving in the minds and 
hearts of the survivors griefs which could end 
only when they too should be called into the 
Silence. Throughout the devastated district 
the work of restoration was in active progress. 
Northward from Leonita Tylu the massive 
walls of the new Moutsen ken ava outlined 
themselves against the horizon, and ere long a 
stately and spacious structure would replace 
the ruin, which was all that was left of the 
tempest-wrecked Litzen Rinada. The beauti- 
ful Temple Residence neared completion, and 
a little later it was presented to the High 
Priest Zeydon as a love offering from his peo- 
ple. 

Yes, certainly it was Zeydon, who with 
tremulous voice and most gracious speech 
made to his people grateful acknowledgment 
of their munificent kindness to him, but Zey- 
don so changed in appearance and demeanor 

194 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

as to be a most pleasing reminder of his for- 
mer arrogant and unloveable self. 

My readers will understand that it was not 
until some years after Zeydon's death that any 
one save the Nyassas and those connected 
with the deplorable affair became aware of 
the secret of his unhappy life, and not until 
now have its tragic features been made known. 
So to all who knew him it was a source of 
constant wonder as to how greatly the high 
priest was changed. Previous to his illness he 
had ever been feared and servilely obeyed; 
but since his recovery his gentle beneficence, 
his self-abnegation and his evident interest in 
the welfare of his people, called forth fullest 
responses of loving reverence ; and when after 
years of usefulness as counsellor and com- 
forter of those in his charge he suddenly 
passed into the Silence their minds and hearts 
were filled with tender regret and a sense of 
personal loss. *Muen elipsaa previous to 
that sad event he united in holy marriage 
Invalou and Frona. It was on the second 
anniversary of the tempest which so nearly 
destroyed Frona's life that he pronounced 
them husband and wife. The marriage was 

*Six Ento years. 

195 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

celebrated in Yaffa a lu5 T tos where as children 
Invalou and Frona had served as offering" 
bearers ; and the numerous guests who wit- 
nessed the ceremony long remembered with a 
sense of awe that as the high priest drew to- 
gether the trembling hands of the groom and 
bride, into his upraised eyes and face came a 
strange, exalted, glorified expression. As in 
fervent tones he entreated Andumana and the 
Deific Ones to bless and protect them until the 
closing of their lives, his manner was that of 
one communing with the gods. 

At Amatu and Koidassa Invalou and Frona 
were equally at home as was also Ouman 
Mitsa who made Frona his legalized heiress 
and upon whom he lavished the affection of a 
parent for a dearly beloved daughter. Be- 
tween the two estates which nearly adjoined 
each other, there was constant interchange of 
hospitality, and through years of unbroken 
happiness the shadows of past sorrows grew 
so dim that at times the participants in the 
tragedy which had so nearly wrecked their 
lives were able to wholly forgive and partly 
to forget. 

The years passed. To Invalou and Frona 
■ came two children, a boy and a girl, counter- 
parts of their parents. Zeydon, the firstborn, 

196 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

a sturdy lad strong and lithe as a young 
*Feltah and the image of his dark skinned, 
superbly handsome father became as hands 
and feet to the prematurely aged high priest 
who after Invalou and Frona's union passed 
at will, to and fro, between the Temple Resi- 
dence and Koidassa which to the lonely man 
had become a second home. Always a wel- 
come and honored guest, his greatest happi- 
ness was with the children, whom with 
scrupulous care he instructed in the mysteries 
of our holy religion. They in turn came to 
regard him as a special protector to whom on 
all occasions of childish discontent or per- 
plexity they appealed as to an indisputable 
authority. 

Zeydonaa, the girl, fair and graceful as a 
Rodel bud swaying upon the bosom of some 
rippling lake, was as the very light of his 
adoring eyes and the life of his loving heart 
in which he enshrined her as a jewel beyond 
price. 

To some critical minds it may appear 
strange that both or either of the children 
were given the name of one who had brought 
into the lives of their parents and grand- 

*Resembles a deer. 

197 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

parents such immeasurable misery. A frag- 
ment of a family council may lead to enlight- 
enment. 

About Fronas couch were grouped Ouman 
Mitsa, Luvon, Tillene, Damma and Avanna, 
while with a most perplexed expression of 
countenance Invalou paced to and fro paus- 
ing occasionally in his promenade to offer a 
suggestion to which the assemblage turned 
deaf ears. A boy child who from the embrac- 
ing arms of Avanna regarded with the gravity 
ever present in the eyes of infants the some- 
what excited group was the subject under 
consideration. 

For the infant numberless names had been 
proposed and promptly rejected and the 
thirty day-old heir of the Nyassas bade fair to 
go nameless, when Frona, who hitherto had 
taken no part in the discussion, with the de- 
cision of a proud young mother, announced 
that she had selected a name for her son. 

"That we may show to the Deific Ones," 
she said; "that we forgive as we all desire to 

be forgiven, and to to the high priest 

that we no longer regard him as aught but a 
trusted and beloved friend, the boy shall be 
named Zeydon Invalou." 

198 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

For a little this declaration so astounded 
her hearers that no one uttered a word, then 
simultaneously there was vociferous and 
unanimous approval of her choice, and at 
once the infant's name was recorded as Zey- 
don Invalou Nyassa. 

Ere the commotion over Frona's decision 
was at an end the high priest was announced 
and was made acquainted with the new Zey- 
don whom he took into his arms and blessed 
with such fervor that his and the eyes of 
those who reverently joined in the Rail, Rau, 
Ran of his earnest prayer to the Deific Ones 
were wet with tears of tenderest emotion ex- 
pressing more forcibly than speech that priest 
and participants in the little ceremony had 
grown to be of one mind and one heart. 

Two years later the infant girl arrived, and 
Invalou claimed the right to name her. The- 
thought of all was that the name of the child: 
would be Frona Tillene, or Frona Avanna r 
so they were greatly amazed when with shin- 
ing eyes and face aglow with emotion he took 
the child into his arms, saying : "To further 
show our gratitude to Andumana, the Creator 
who hath given into our keeping another child 
of His and our love and to the gracious gods 
whose protection hath so blest the union of 

199 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

this dear spouse and myself, and" — In answer 
to Frona's out-reaching hands, entreating eyes 
and tremulous lips, he paused to kiss her love- 
ly face into smiles. Then he proceeded: "As 
I was about to say, — to also assure our high 
priest that as a dear counsellor, guide and 
more than friend he stands pre-eminent in our 
affectionate regard, I propose that this second 
Frona who in her infantile features repeats 
the incomparable charms of her adorable 
mother, shall be named Frona Zeydcnaa." 

This announcement so surprised Frona and 
the grandparents that they only could look 
their astonishment. As for Oilman Mitsa, 
the calm and complacent expression of his 
countenance afforded ground for suspicion 
that he had been taken into Invalou's confi- 
dence. It was but for an instant that the 
silence remained unbroken. Then with much 
enthusiasm all concerned declared that it was 
the fittest and prettiest of all names. 

Zeydon who had been invited to be present 
on this notable occasion and who appeared to 
be overcome by this added demonstration of 
goodwill, with an air of timidity approached 
and took from Invalou's arms the cooing, 
flower-like creature whose golden hair clung 
in tiny ringlets to its fair forehead and whose 

200 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

empurpled eyes gazed into his with the pecu- 
liar expression of the newly created. After 
one strange, searching glance into the child's 
face he stood with closed eyes and prayed but 
no word issued from his lips. They, who with 
reverent awe, looked upon the rapt face of the 
high priest thought that they understood. And 
when with whitened lips he touched the fore- 
head of the smiling infant and laid it gently in 
the arms of its tearful mother, and with a 
silent inclination of his whitened head to all, 
left the room and returned to his lonely home, 
they thought that they understood. Did they? 
I believe not. Only the pitying and all-know- 
ing Creator and His special messengers, the 
Deific Ones, could have understood the man 
who in the Inner Sanctuary of Yaffa a Luytos 
knelt the night through praying a wordless 
prayer. And when in the gray of dawn the 
Sanctuary God Soima, softly whispered: "I 
have watched with thee ; despair not. When 
thy suffering shall have equalled thy sinning, 
peace will abide in thy heart," Zeydon, humb- 
ly answered, "May it be so." 

It was a graceful and gracious act, the nam- 
ing of the infant daughter Zeydonaa; and to 
my mind in no other way could the chasm, 
which for so long had yawned between the 

201 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

high priest and the Nyassas, have been so 
completely bridged over. It was to Zeydon a 
full assurance that for the wrongs and wretch- 
edness he had inflicted upon these admirable 
persons, he was entirely forgiven. Could he 
have so freely and fully forgiven himself, he 
would have escaped years of self-accusation 
and bitter humiliation, which, ere he passed 
into the Silence, purified and exalted his na- 
ture to a degree seldom attained by Andu- 
mana's sinful children. 

The conclusion of a story, especially of a 
true story, as Records of the Most High Priest 
Moukara, of the High Priest Zeydon, and of 
Oilman Mitsa and others declare this to be, is 
to me as sad as taking leave of those one loves 
and leaves forever; and I confess that as my 
pen traces these closing lines my heart beats 
but faintly and I shrink from writing the last 
word as I might shrink from the thrust of a 
knife. As the end is inevitable I shall afford 
you, my readers and myself one more glimpse 
of the dear ones of Koidassa, of Amatu and 
of the High Priest Zeydon. 

Across the Temple garden the last beams 
of Diafon evoiha glanced in rays of golden 
light. From the great open doorway of the 

202 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Temple Residence the High Priest with a smile 
on his face and an expectant look in his fine 
eyes goes hastily towards Koidassa. Now he 
pauses and in a clear musical voice calls : 
"Zeydonaa, Zeydonaa," and in a listening atti- 
tude waits. He does not pause long for, like 
a flash of light two swiftly flying feet carry a 
golden-haired, purple-eyed, Frona to his 
eagerly outreaching arms ; and as he catches 
her up to his breast he murmurs : "So like 
thy mother, so like thy mother," my little 
Roina bud who art life of my broken life, 
heart of my broken heart ! Truly the merci- 
ful gods are most kind to me who have so 
little deserved such a benediction as thou art." 
Then he sets her upon her feet and hand in 
hand slowly they wander through the quiet 
garden paths. As they gather red and golden 
blooms for the altar offering Zeydonaa prat- 
tles to the high priest's untiring ears of the 
wonders of the flowers and birds of Amatii 
and of the dearest of all kinsmen, Ouman 
Mitsa who tells her marvelous stories of a 
time when boys like her brother Zeydon and 
little girls like herself were sacrificed to Andti- 
mana and the gods. As she recalls Ouman 
Mitsa's recitals her crimson lips quiver and 
her ready tears, like diamonds, fall on her 

203 



DECIMOX HUYDAS 

armful of fragrant blooms. The high priest 
shudders as with quick, protective movement 
he gathers child and flowers into his arms and 
soothingly says: "Praise be to Andumana, 
the most high, thou art safe ! Thou art safe 
my priceless treasure ! The cruel knife and 
torturing flames are not for thee or for any of 
Ento's children." Then as though commun- 
ing with himself, he murmured : "And since 
through His immeasurable love and mercy for 
His own He no longer demands the last test 
of obedience to His commands, who knows 
but that in some coming time, aye, at any 
time, He ma}' vouchsafe to thee my precious 
one, and to all His children the gift of all 
gifts : continued existence here or elsewhere." 

Zeydonaa listens to the high priest's strange 
words which she does not at all comprehend. 
But perceiving that he is greatly moved she 
draws one soft white arm about his neck and 
rests her lovely childish face against his own 
and he is comforted. 

Diafon evoiha has vanished below the hori- 
zon and through the afterglow of its glory 
the lamps of Astranola are faintly gleaming. 
The temple bells of Leonita Tflu peal out 
their far-reaching silvery tones calling to the 
evening service the children of Andumana the 

204 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Infinite One, whose creative power hath called 
into existence all that anywhere is. 

Coming from Koidassa are Ouman Mitsa, 
Luvon, and Tillene, Damma, Avanna, and the 
lad Zeydon, who rushes hither and thither in 
a futile effort to capture swiftly flitting 
*Eydas, the eyes of his grandparents follow- 
ing his graceful movements with adoring 
glances. A little further away are Invalou 
and Frona, whose, slightly halting steps her 
husband sustains with the tenderness of a 
lover. 

As they near Yaffa a Luytos, suddenly, with 
smiling lips and attentive manner they all 
pause, for on the quiet air the musical prattle 
of a child is borne to their listening ears. A 
moment later, from a garden path the high 
priest, bearing in his arms Zeydonaa and her 
armful of red and golden blooms, comes to- 
wards them. The gems in the golden fillet 
confining his abundant, whitening hair are no 
more brilliant than are his dark, fine eyes 
which seem to have drawn into their depths 
the radiance of the vanished beams of Diafon 
evoiha. Against his dusky face is pressed the 
flower face of Zeydonaa, her golden locks 

* A large night moth. 

205 



DECIMON HUYDAS 

flowing over his shoulders and mingling with 
his own. And as he and his lovely burthen 
approach the waiting group they present a 
picture to be remembered in after days. Re- 
luctantly yielding to the outreaching arms of 
her proud and fond grandsire his beloved 
namesake he gently greets his friends whose 
affectionate salutations afford abundant evi- 
dence of their tender regard for him. 

Then with parting caresses from Zeydon 
and Zeydonaa he goes towards his residence 
and the children with their flower offering 
hasten towards the rear entrance of the temple 
to take their places in the procession. 

As the children disappear Invalou in a low 
voice, says "Frona dear, in our children's lives 
is a repetition of the earliest days of our own." 
And Frona replies : "Yes, heart of my 
heart ; but praise be to Andumana and the 
Deific Ones, to them the horror of the sacrifice 
will ever be unknown. And against an ex- 
perience such as we and those who so love 
us have endured, may the divine and gracious 
gods defend them." 

With faces clouded by memories of bygone 
days they follow into the temple Oilman Mitsa 
and their parents. 

206 



- 



BD 



*>3 



A ROMANCE OF MARS 

Now, as the low plaintive strains of the 
vouhoida awaken the quiet of the spacious 
and very beautiful Temple the further door 
way opens and the high priest in his flowing 
robes enters and approaches the great circular 
Altar rearing its snowy beauty towards the 
red and golden crystal Diafon evoiha. And 
as the mingled tones of the vouhoida and the 
melodious voices of the singers swell into a 
grand volume of harmonious sounds, the 
youthful offering bearers laden with grains, 
fruits and flowers enter and surround the 
altar. 

Silently the children stand awaiting the ap- 
pointed moment of the offering; and as upon 
one golden-haired child the eyes of the high 
priest rest, into his face grows an expression 
of immeasurable tenderness and deepest 
humility and under his breath, he murmurs : 

"Though I have greatly, grievously sinned, 
Thy love and mercy, O Thou Infinite One, are 
mightier than my transgressions. And in 
Thine own time and way Thou wilt show me 
that Thou hast forgiven me and Thou wilt 
wholly heal my sorely wounded heart and I 
shall find rest — and peace." 



207 



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